Ukraine needs ‘less applause, more arms,’ says Borrell

Brussels, Apr 7 (EFE).- Ukraine needs “less applauses and more arms” and Russia needs more international pressure and isolation, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said Thursday.

“(Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy has a lot of support, but what he really needs is more arms. Less applauses and more arms,” said Borrell upon arrival at a foreign ministerial summit at NATO.

“Good words are good, but the important thing are practical issues. More resources, more military capabilities to resist the Russian aggression, more isolation of Russia in the international community, more sanctions,” he added.

In the meeting, in which the EU and Asia-Pacific countries participate as guests, in addition to Finland, Sweden and Ukraine, attendees will “continue with our transatlantic cooperation and coordination in order to continue facing the Russian aggression in Ukraine,” said Borrell.

In this coordinated action against Russia, the Spanish politician stressed the importance of increasing sanctions against President Vladimir Putin’s regime, and against its oil exports, which does not yet appear in the fifth package of sanctions that is expected to be approved Thursday by the EU envoys.

“(An oil embargo) is not in the fifth package of sanctions, which is being discussed today, it is only coal. But it will be discussed on Monday at the Foreign Affairs Council Ministers meeting. Sooner or later – I hope sooner – it will happen,” Borrell said.

On this latest package of sanctions, Borrell stressed that the EU has followed a “progressive approach” and is now “accelerating.”

“We did not want to do everything at the same moment, at the first time – taking into account the situation in the ground. But now the sanctions are almost completed,” said the head of European diplomacy.

Borrell also highlighted the “very important vote” scheduled to be held Thursday at the United Nations to expel Russia from the Human Rights Council.

“It is going to be a difficult vote, because it requires two-thirds of the votes, but I think that it will be agreed,” he said.

“Everybody knows about the atrocities that have been discovered in Bucha and in other places around Kyiv.”

Borrell is scheduled to travel to Kyiv before the end of the week with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to visit Ukraine’s leader, as well as its Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov.

“We will for sure know better what is going on there. The important thing is to continue putting pressure on Russia and continue supporting Ukraine,” Borrell concluded. EFE

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