European Union leaders Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen have lashed out at Russia after the country’s Government declared it is in a “state of war” in Ukraine for the first time.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov justified what is a change of rhetoric by saying that Western support of Ukraine had morphed his country’s so-called “special military operation” into a full-blown conflict, a claim rejected by Brussels.
Speaking at the end of the EU summit on March 22, European Commission President Von der Leyen accused Moscow of having lied to its population for the past two years regarding its activities in Ukraine.
“Russia is at war with Ukraine since the 22nd of February in 2022,” she told reporters.
“This comment today only proves that the Kremlin betrayed the Russian population over the last two years by hiding the facts and denying that they are at war.”
Michel blasted Peskov’s statement as being “cynical”, adding that it showed the EU was “right” to bolster its defences.
“If we want security and stability, it is extremely important to improve our defence capacities,” he said.
Both politicians went on to insist they would not be deterred by any statements issued by Russia, and that they would continue to pursue the EU’s policy of trying to isolate Russia financially, politically and militarily.
“We are not intimidated by Russia,” Michel said. “That is why we are making decisions to support Ukraine.”
Von der Leyen added that potential threats posed by the Kremlin to European firms still doing business in Russia would not be allowed to influence EU decision-making.
“Whatever Russia is doing Russia does,” she said, dismissing one question asking whether Europe should be concerned about Russia retaliating against a Commission proposal to put tariffs on Russian and Belarusian grain imports.
“This should not influence our decision,” she said.
“We take our decisions.”
Ukraine could dismantle within days its “sponsors of war” blacklist, central to Kyiv’s campaign to expose companies doing business with Russia, after a backlash from countries including China and France. https://t.co/85FihxKct2
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) March 22, 2024
