Russia's horrific attacks on Kryvyi Rih and Sumy demonstrate that Putin is seeking to continue the war, not to seek peace, and require decisive European steps to strengthen Ukraine's and its own capabilities, increase pressure on the aggressor, and accelerate Ukraine's integration into the EU.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said this on Monday morning, April 14, during an online speech at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg.
The Foreign Minister began his speech with detailed information regarding the Russian ballistic missile strike on Sumy, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties, as well as the previous strike on Kryvyi Rih and other acts of Russian terror.
"Palm Sunday and the beginning of Easter week should have been a time for peace, but Putin made it a time of terror. This is the horrible reality in modern Europe. Cluster warheads killing children during major religious holidays. The strike on Sumy was not simply an attack on a Ukrainian city. It was an attack on our common principles, on the values of modern Europe," the Minister said.
The Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude to his European colleagues who expressed solidarity with Ukraine after the attack on Sumy, as well as to their diplomats who visited Kryvyi Rih after the killing of nine children by a Russian missile.
"I urge your governments and municipal authorities to look into the possibility of providing additional support for the cities of Kryvyi Rih and Sumy, for the people in these cities. The whole Ukraine will be grateful to you for this," emphasized Andrii Sybiha.
The Minister called on his European colleagues to increase military assistance to Ukraine, primarily by strengthening its air defense capabilities: to provide additional systems, launchers, missiles, and spare parts. He informed about Ukraine's efforts to develop its own strategic-level air defense system and suggested that European countries invest in this program to speed up its implementation.
The Foreign Minister also emphasized other priority military needs, including ammunition, long-range missiles, armored vehicles and engineering equipment, combat aircraft, drones, and additional investments in the Ukrainian defense industry. He expressed his gratitude for the relevant initiatives to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities proposed by EU High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, as well as to the states participating in the Czech Initiative.
The Minister particularly stressed the importance of the ReArm Europe program initiated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The Minister paid special attention to increasing sanctions pressure on the aggressor. He expressed gratitude for the fact that despite all the challenges, the EU continued to increase pressure and called for additional strong steps. Among them, the Foreign Minister listed a full embargo on the purchase of Russian energy by governments and private companies, sanctions against the shadow fleet, the full use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's defense and reconstruction, further restrictions in the banking sector, metallurgy, nuclear energy, IT and other industries.
Andrii Sybiha reminded of Ukraine's readiness to open accession negotiations as soon as possible and emphasized that now is not the time to block the process of our country's accession to the EU. According to him, European integration is one of the factors of long-term stability and peace in Europe.
The Minister emphasized that the overall strategy towards Russia should not be about concessions, but about greater strength, self-sufficiency and leadership of Europe.
"Putin will go forward, deeper into Europe and closer to your homes, if we don’t stop him in Ukraine. This is the reality. And we don't want your countries to ever see cluster warheads hitting residential areas or playgrounds. That is why it is necessary to act now to achieve peace, to strengthen Ukraine and increase pressure on Moscow," the Minister said.
The Minister stressed that Ukraine remains committed to peaceful efforts and has taken concrete steps in this direction, including unconditionally agreeing to a full ceasefire proposed by the United States. Instead, Russia rejected this proposal and intensified its terror against civilians.
The Minister also recalled that Ukraine had agreed with the United States on a partial ceasefire in the energy and maritime sectors, and in this context informed his European colleagues about Russian violations. He emphasized the need for confidence-building measures, such as the release of prisoners of war and the return of abducted children. The Foreign Minister also emphasized the need to move from a partial to a full ceasefire and the need for mechanisms to monitor and guarantee it.