In a press conference earlier today in Kyiv with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, the EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas has announced that the EU will provide up to €10 million to the Special Tribunal for the Crimes of Aggression against Ukraine. The EU Deputy-Commissioner President also highlighted that the EU will be providing €2 billion to Ukraine for drone development, will strengthen Ukraine’s cyber-security defenses, and allocated €6 million for the victims of sexual violence and the care of Ukrainian children that were returned home from Russia after having been abducted.
The Russian army has committed countless of war crimes in Ukraine including widespread sexual violence and also the abduction and kidnapping of Ukrainian children. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has a pending arrest warrant against him for abducting up to 20,000 Ukrainian children and holding them in Russia. Many of these children are also sent to military indoctrination camps inside Russia.
High Representative Kallas reiterated that the EU will keep supporting Ukraine and after Russia’s clear refusal to bring an end to its war, the EU is preparing for the long-haul with further sanctions that are expected to be announced soon. The proposed 19th sanctions package against Russia has been held back by Austria over its proposed exceptionalism to Raiffeisen Bank.
The High Representative highlighted the importance of sanctions, saying that for every Euro that Russia fails to get, reduces Russia’s war revenues. She also said that Ukraine can win the war against Russia as Russia experiences severe economic pressures due to sanctions including a 20% inflation rate and depleting cash reserves. She also highlighted that Russia’s Summer offensive in Ukraine has failed. High Representative Kallas has also insisted that frozen Russian funds in Europe should be used to fund Ukraine’s war effort with several EU members including France and Belgium currently opposing this proposal.
The EU High Representative also said that she will be presenting a European defence plan against Russia’s hybrid attacks on Europe along with the EU Commissioner President Ursula von der Leyen.
Ukrainian cities and civilians continue to be targeted by Russian night attacks on a daily basis.
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