EU Reaffirms Support for Ukraine Amid Controversy Over Trump’s Comments
Stefan de Keersmaecker highlights the difference between Ukraine’s democratic status and Russia under Putin after controversial remarks from Donald Trump.
The European Union has reiterated its position regarding Ukraine's democratic status, contrasting it sharply with the governance of President Vladimir Putin's Russia.
This assertion was made by Stefan de Keersmaecker, a spokesperson for the European Commission, during a press briefing on Thursday.
The comments followed remarks made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who characterized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a dictator for postponing the 2024 presidential elections indefinitely amid the ongoing war.
De Keersmaecker stated that the EU holds a 'fairly clear and straightforward' stance on the issue, emphasizing that Zelenskyy was democratically elected through free and fair elections.
'Ukraine is a democracy, and Putin's Russia is not,' he asserted.
De Keersmaecker also highlighted that the EU has provided significant support to Ukraine since the onset of the war, both militarily and financially, to assist what he termed 'their friends in Ukraine.' He reiterated that no agreement regarding Ukraine could be reached without the involvement of Kyiv and the EU, underlining that Ukraine's security is also perceived as the EU's security.
In parallel, António Costa, the President of the European Council, noted on social media that February 24 will mark the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
He announced plans to visit Kyiv alongside Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to reaffirm the EU's support for 'the heroic Ukrainian people and their democratically elected president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.'
Trump's previous comments suggested that Ukraine bears some responsibility for the ongoing conflict, which escalated following Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022, after Putin issued a command for the military assault on Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has countered that the war was instigated by Russia, reflecting on the repercussions of Russian propaganda.
This assertion was made by Stefan de Keersmaecker, a spokesperson for the European Commission, during a press briefing on Thursday.
The comments followed remarks made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who characterized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a dictator for postponing the 2024 presidential elections indefinitely amid the ongoing war.
De Keersmaecker stated that the EU holds a 'fairly clear and straightforward' stance on the issue, emphasizing that Zelenskyy was democratically elected through free and fair elections.
'Ukraine is a democracy, and Putin's Russia is not,' he asserted.
De Keersmaecker also highlighted that the EU has provided significant support to Ukraine since the onset of the war, both militarily and financially, to assist what he termed 'their friends in Ukraine.' He reiterated that no agreement regarding Ukraine could be reached without the involvement of Kyiv and the EU, underlining that Ukraine's security is also perceived as the EU's security.
In parallel, António Costa, the President of the European Council, noted on social media that February 24 will mark the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
He announced plans to visit Kyiv alongside Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to reaffirm the EU's support for 'the heroic Ukrainian people and their democratically elected president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.'
Trump's previous comments suggested that Ukraine bears some responsibility for the ongoing conflict, which escalated following Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022, after Putin issued a command for the military assault on Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has countered that the war was instigated by Russia, reflecting on the repercussions of Russian propaganda.
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