Ukraine: Remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas together with Minister Andrii Sybiha ahead of the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers
Bucha
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Dear Andrii, thank you for inviting us here.
It is true that we are commemorating four years of liberation of Bucha that also showed the atrocities that were committed under occupation against civilians. All these war crimes that we have seen, these people that lost their lives, these are regular civilians. Some were just walking on the street. Some were killed in their own homes. Some were tortured and raped.
These are the crimes that are committed. And unfortunately, these are not isolated crimes. This is the playbook that Russia has, wherever they occupy the ground, and that is what we have to keep in mind.
That is why the focus of our today's visit with the Foreign Ministers of the European Union is also to keep accountability on the table. Because without accountability, if those crimes get or go unpunished, then there is no possibility to have a just and lasting peace. Because justice is part of the peace process. And that is why we are pushing forward the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression, but also the Claims Commission, where the people can present their claims regarding these crimes that have been committed.
We have a long day ahead. We are also taking into the focus veterans, because we also need to think about the day after, how we have the whole-of-society approach.
There are many important discussions, but I think it is also important to remember, like you say, in addition to the war that is going on in the Middle East, that we do not let Ukraine slip off the table, because this is happening here and now, this is part of Europe, and that is why it is also Europe's concern that this war will end with a just and lasting peace.
Q. It is a 20th sanctions package and the loan. Do you see any chances that these both questions will not be approved by the end of the Spring? Loan and the new package of sanctions?
We have some obstacles on the way when it comes to the 20th sanctions package as well as the disbursement of the loan. The work is ongoing to overcome these obstacles, but unfortunately today I do not have the good news to deliver here, that this loan will be imbursed. So that is why we are still working and hopefully we will get this decision for the next European Council.
Q. Bucha was four years ago. And, as you said, the crimes Russia is responsible for are continuing. What are the specific steps the European Union wants to take to end this war, to end these crimes?
We have two work lines. One is to support Ukraine so Ukraine can resist, and the other is to put pressure on Russia, because, to be very clear, there is one aggressor and one victim. So, the pressure should be on the aggressor. We see that Russian economy is not doing well even the oil price hike is not helping them as much as they need. They have huge issues with recruitment of new soldiers to their army. We have to see that this is the picture that we cannot give up now. We actually have to increase the pressure, so that they would go really from pretending to negotiate to actually negotiate.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/media/video/I-287280