Ukraine is in “peril” and will be defeated if the US and EU fail to provide adequate financial support amid the ongoing fight against Russia, Ireland’s premier has warned.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said this week’s meeting of the European Commission was one of the most important he has ever attended due to the decisions that will be taken in relation to Ukraine.
Mr Varadkar said he wanted the bloc to back a new financial package for Ukraine and also give the go-ahead for accession talks around its proposed EU membership to begin next year.
The European Commission has faced criticism for releasing 10 billion of frozen funds for Hungary ahead of the summit – with the move interpreted by many as an incentive for Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban not to veto the EU vote on support for Ukraine.
Mr Varadkar rejected that characterisation, insisting the timing of the unfreezing of the funds was coincidental. He said Hungary was entitled to the money with EU rules after it undertook a series of rule-of-law reforms.
“The rules are the rules,” he said, as he arrived at the summit meeting in Brussels.
“Hungary is entitled to certain monies, and they’re linked to certain rules. And if they fulfil the criteria, the money flows. We’re a country that always talks to other countries about the importance of upholding the rule of law. And, in this case, it’s the European Union that had to obey its own rules.
“The timing is not good, because of course the perception is that this is some sort of incentive to Hungary to support certain positions and an incentive that might not even work, but that’s actually not the case.
“The rules are the rules. Hungary fulfilled the criteria required to unlock this aspect of the 30 billion (overall funding pot earmarked for Hungary), and that’s why it’s been allocated.”
Mr Varadkar said it was vital that the EU and US continued to back Ukraine as it resisted President Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
“I’ve been attending European Council meetings for six or seven years now, this is probably one of the most important ones that I’ve attended, precisely because of the big decisions we have to make in relation to Ukraine, a financial decision and also a decision on whether to begin negotiations (on accession).
“And we have to say yes to at least one of those two and, ideally, both of those two, because Ukraine is in peril.
“Ukraine will not stand without support and ongoing support from both the European Union and the US, the two towers of freedom and democracy in the world.
“And if Ukraine doesn’t have support from the EU and the US, well then Putin will win and all of the consequences that flow for the world after that.
“So that’s why this meeting is so important. We must come away here with a financial package for Ukraine that is sustainable, that gives them the assurance that they will be funded for the next few years if needs be, and sends a very clear message to the Kremlin as well.
“And then also, I’ll be very strongly supporting the opening of negotiations. It might take many years for Ukraine to join the European Union, but we should begin negotiations next year.
“And I know from speaking to President (Volodymyr) Zelensky that matters on the front line, soldiers who have been fighting on the front line for Europe for Ukraine. This will really count in terms of their morale, so this is a really important meeting.”
Mr Varadkar added: “If we can’t support Ukraine throughout 2024, Putin will win. And I can’t even begin to contemplate the consequences for the world for all of us if that were to happen. So this is a really important meeting. And a really big decision to be made.”