European Council head visits Ukraine, pledges more support

ISTANBUL

In a visit to Kyiv on Monday, European Council President Charles Michel pledged more European support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.

“We are determined to do everything we can in order to support Ukraine because we want the victory of Ukraine,” Charles Michel told a news conference in the capital Kyiv besides Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On his visit to the Ukrainian town of Borodyanka, where heavy clashes have taken place since the start of the war, Michel said: “These are atrocities. These are war crimes. It must be punished.”

The EU has taken many concrete measures against Russia so far, he said, but added: “This is not enough, and it’s why we’re constantly working in order to increase the pressure.”

Asked about the EU’s dependency on Russian energy, Michel said that the 27-member bloc has already decided to stop its dependency on Russian gas and oil but “it will take time.”

He further said: “And we are working very hard today with partners to be able to take the decisions that are needed.

“We have tasked the commission to make proposals in the short term, in the midterm in order to reach this common goal.”

Zelenskyy, for his part, thanked Michel for his visit and support for Ukraine.

Asked about the current situation in the besieged city of Mariupol, Zelenskyy said it is “worsening.”

Some humanitarian corridors in the region are not working, the president said, adding that Ukraine does not have enough weapons to “unblock” the besieged city.

On April 8, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also visited Kyiv.

At least 2,224 civilians have been killed and 2,897 injured in Ukraine so far in the war that started on Feb. 24, according to UN estimates, with the true figure believed to be much higher.

More than 5 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, with over 7 million more internally displaced, said the UN refugee agency.