Debate: The EU’s response to the appalling attack against civilians in Dnipro : strengthening sanctions against the Putin regime and military support to Ukraine
Date: TUESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2023
Speaker: Jessika Roswall 
Language: EN

Russia continues to show its inhumane face and applies its brutal missile terror. Such actions constitute war crimes and must stop immediately. We strongly condemn Russia’s continued strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine, including energy infrastructure. Russia is weaponising this winter by leaving civilians without electricity and water in winter temperatures. Ukrainian citizens cannot even find refuge in their homes when Russia is also hitting residential buildings with missiles – like the attack on the residential building in Dnipro on 14 January.  As my Prime Minister stated, intentional attacks against civilians constitute war crimes, and those responsible will be held to account. The EU will continue supporting Ukraine and its people, and the Presidency will give priority to all measures to ensure accountability for the violations of international law and war crimes committed in Ukraine. In this regard, the EU strongly supports the investigation by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and is looking at all options at their disposal.  The bravery and the resilience of the Ukrainian defenders is beyond praise. They have withstood almost a year of brutal, full scale invasion by the Russian army. Ukraine has been suffering since the beginning of the Russian war – that is since 2014. This is the longest war that Europe has seen in modern history. Honourable Members, on 20 January, the Ukraine Defence Contact Group will meet at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany to discuss the next steps in the military assistance that is being provided to Ukraine by its partners. The EU Member States continue to contribute to a massive delivery of military equipment to Ukraine. with the help of the European Peace Facility. The total amount committed under the EPF is EUR 3.1 billion. This is this allow us to cover procurement costs as well as repair and maintenance for the equipment already delivered.  Last November we launched the EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine, which is delivering good results. Our objective is the training of 15 000 Ukrainian military personnel this winter, and we are on track. The majority of the Member States are actively taking part in this mission. Our goal is to train, by the end of March 2023, around 10 000 Ukrainian soldiers.  As you know, in response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, the EU has imposed so far nine far—reaching and hard—hitting sanctions packages in close coordination with partners and allies. Our sanctions have already sent Russia’s economy into deep recession, affecting the ability of Russia to finance its war. As our leaders have stated on several occasions, the EU remains ready to move quickly with further restrictive measures in addition to those already adopted, if developments on the ground justify this. Nothing is off the table.  Following the implementation of the EU ban on Russian crude oil and G7 price gap at the beginning of December, Russia is starting to feel the impact. The volume of crude exports has fallen and the price has declined, substantially from the peak of 2022. The long term effect of sanctions on the Russian economy will likely be even stronger and will further weaken the Russian economy and its military capabilities.  The European Council invites the Commission to present options in line with the EU and international law, enabling the use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction. Discussions among the Member States in this complex matter are ongoing. As the Presidency, we are determined to take this work forward.