European leaders urge peace in Ukraine, defense reinforcement

​​​​​​​By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL - European leaders urged lasting peace in Ukraine and reinforcing defense as they gathered Thursday in Brussels before a EU Council's special summit on European defense and Ukraine.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated at the doorstep of the summit the importance of rearming Europe while continuing to support Ukraine.

“We are committed also to support Ukraine by 0.35% of our GDP each year, we calculated, if our countries will commit to paying the same amount, Ukraine would receive €43 billion ($46 billion),” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda affirmed.

Nauseda suggested that Ukraine not only needs military and financial support but political support as well.

“I proposed to set up the orientational date of Ukraine's membership in the European Union, for example, to have 2030, Jan. 1. It will be not a legal definition, but it will be our political commitment to set the path and to send very clear guidelines to our friends,” he added.

Nauseda said France’s “nuclear umbrella” would be a very “serious deterrence” for Russia.

“It's very important for us that we can act as Europe unitedly, and we can boost up our military industry,” said Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina.

Silina reiterated the need for flexibility on the European defense budget and steps for “peace through strength” to achieve “lasting peace.”

“Obviously, we are living in times which are quite historical because our traditional allies change their position in front of a situation which is difficult in Europe,” Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden also said at the doorstep of the summit.

Frieden reiterated the significance of unity in Europe while focusing on competitiveness, defense and support for Ukraine.