Six countries and EU promise more aid to Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia
The Weimar+ support group for Ukraine has said on Monday 31 March that it would increase its aid to Ukraine while considering new sanctions against Russia to force it to agree to a ceasefire.
Accroding to Reuters, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and the UK, together with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius, discussed increasing military aid and security guarantees for Ukraine, as well as Europe's future role in the peace process on 31 March, during the fourth meeting of the Weimar+ support group for Ukraine.
The joint declaration after the meeting called on Russia to agree to an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire on equal terms and with full implementation".
They said they were prepared to put further pressure on Moscow through new sanctions to ensure that Kyiv was in the "best possible position to secure a just and lasting peace".
The countries also said they would increase military, political and humanitarian funding for Ukraine's war effort.
They said any peace agreement must be backed by credible security guarantees for Ukraine but stressed, "We stand ready to play a leading role in this regard."
The statement also emphasised that the countries would not accept any agreement limiting Ukraine's defence industry or the military presence of partner countries on Ukrainian territory.
The Weimar+ group stated that it is committed to ensuring full accountability for Russia's war crimes by working to establish a special court within the Council of Europe.
The statement added that the frozen Russian assets should remain frozen until Moscow ends the war and compensates Ukraine for the damage it has caused.
Prior to the meeting, Kallas called on Russia to show goodwill and agree on a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The Madrid meeting is taking place ahead of an informal summit of EU defence ministers in Warsaw, which will primarily assess the EU’s real capacity to increase military support for Ukraine – particularly the urgent provision of ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.