A lasting peace in Ukraine must be built on Russia being held accountable for crimes committed during the war. The European Union must continue to put pressure on Moscow and support Ukraine.
This was stated by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas during a debate in the European Parliament on support for Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.
“Even wars have their laws, and Putin’s regime is breaking them all — absolutely all of them,” Kallas said.
She stressed the need to ensure Russia is held accountable for aggression and war crimes. She said she is working to support the International Claims Commission and the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
“We must ensure they begin their work as soon as possible,” the EU representative said.
Kallas also emphasised the need to return deported Ukrainian children and to release all civilians held in Russian captivity. She said many of them are subjected to systematic torture.
“The foundation of a lasting peace, when the time comes, is accountability,” Kallas said.
She said the EU must continue to put pressure on Russia and support Ukraine. Kallas recalled that the European Union has already introduced 21 sanctions packages affecting around 3,000 individuals and legal entities.
According to the EU representative, total EU assistance to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war has exceeded €220bn. Military assistance from the EU and its member states amounts to more than €78bn.
She also recalled a two-year €90bn loan programme to support Ukraine, of which €60bn is earmarked for military needs. So far, she said, €8.35bn has already been disbursed, including for missiles for Patriot systems.
Kallas urged EU member states to step up military support for Ukraine. She noted that a further €1bn in new funding may be available under the European Peace Facility.
“Putin does not care much about the lives of his own people, but we can restrict Russia’s finances and resources that fuel the war. If Putin does not come to the negotiating table voluntarily, we will apply joint pressure to make him do so,” Kallas said.