Brussels 29.08.2024 Today the EU top diplomat Josep Borrell described this summer as “complicated” while addressing press at doorstep of the Foreign affairs ministers informal meeting in Brussels.

“There are a lot of things happening, and one of the most important things is the continuing attack of Russia against the civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

“That is why, today at the first informal Foreign Affairs Council meeting after the summer break – well, there has not been really a break, but after the summer – we have the pleasure to receive at the informal Foreign Affairs Council in person, not by VTC, Minister [for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro] Kuleba.

“Tomorrow, we will have the Defence Minister [of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov] – both things are linked – but it is important to have you with us here, dear Dmytro.

“It is important because first, the Ukrainians have shown a lot of strategic audacity, launching attacks inside the Russian territory. This operation in Kursk has dealt a blow to Putin’s narrative about this war.

“It is an important strategic news, but at the same time Russia continues attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure.

“On Monday, this Monday 26 August, Russia launched an air attack with more than 300 missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities, hitting for critical energy infrastructure. It is clear that Russia wants to destroy completely the electricity system of Ukraine in order to put Ukraine into the dark and cold for the next winter.

“Many hospitals and health centres have been bombed. Russia wants to bomb a European country into full capitulation. Hence, air defence systems were critical before the summer, they are still much more critical today. This will be the first point of a very busy informal Foreign Affairs Council.

“And also, I am sure you will explain us why we need to lift restrictions on the use of weaponry against Russia’s military targets, in accordance with international law. During the summer, I have issued statements supporting this decision.

“The weaponry that we are providing to Ukraine has to have full use, and the restrictions have to be lifted in order for the Ukrainians to be able to target the places [from] where Russia is bombing them. Otherwise, the weaponry is useless.

“Ukraine is asking for this. And today, having Minister Kuleba with us will be an important moment in order to make everybody understand why.

“Some data: since the start of the war, in February 2022, Russia has fired against Ukraine more than 14,000 drones, almost 10,000 missiles – it was 9,500 last week, today it must be already about 10,000, and many more glided bombs – you know, this kind of bombs that have been launched at high altitude, at high speed and they glide onto the objective. Many of them are being launched from Russia.

“The good news – we discussed about it – is that we have started using the revenues from windfall profits from frozen Russian assets. The windfall profits from these frozen assets have already been sent to Ukraine and sent to the Member States who will provide with this money more military equipment to Ukraine.

“The important thing [is] that for the first time, we are financing directly the Ukrainian industry. We are providing financing for the Ukrainians to make their own industrial capacity work. €1.4 billion have already been sent.

“After [the] military comes diplomacy. We have to be more proactive also in this field. We will exchange on our global outreach and hear about Ukraine President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy’s Peace Plan. So, the first item of our very busy meeting today will be about Ukraine, military support, diplomatic support, lifting restrictions and increasing our support to these brave people who have surprised the world by launching an audacious attack against Russia, showing that Putin’s narrative was completely false. It is our great pleasure to have Dmytro with us today”.