More military support for Ukraine amid the involvement of China and North Korea

In a resolution adopted on Thursday, Parliament condemned Russia’s use of North Korean troops against the Ukrainian army and its testing of new ballistic missiles in Ukraine. These recent escalatory steps represent a new phase in the war and a new risk for Europe’s security as a whole, MEPs argue, calling on the EU and Ukraine’s other partners to respond accordingly.

Insisting that “no negotiations about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine”, MEPs urge the EU to work towards achieving the broadest possible international support for Ukraine and identifying a peaceful solution to the war. The Parliament calls for the engagement of the EU and the member states in implementing Ukraine’s Peace Formula and establishing the necessary conditions for holding a second Summit on Peace, including by engaging countries from the Global South.

Further sanctions for countries providing military support to Russia

Denouncing Iran, Belarus and North Korea for their military support of Russia, MEPs urge the EU member states to further strengthen the sanctions regime against these countries. They stress that both Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and North Korea’s participation in the war and its nuclear and missile programmes constitute grave threats to the rules-based international order. Involvement of China

MEPs also call on Beijing to end all military or dual-use assistance it is giving to Russia, adding that a refusal to change course risks seriously affecting bilateral EU-China relations. Instead, China could use its significant influence over North Korea and Russia to help reduce tensions, they say.

Strengthening military support for Ukraine

The resolution demands the Council to extend its sanctions against Russia; particularly against sectors of special economic importance, such as the metallurgical, nuclear, chemical, agricultural and banking sectors, and on Russian raw materials.

MEPs ask the EU and its member states to strengthen their military support for Ukraine, including through the provision of aircraft, long-range missiles, including Taurus missiles, modern air defence systems, including Patriots and SAMP/T and ammunition, as well as MANPADS (Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems), artillery and training programmes for Ukrainian forces.

All EU member states and NATO allies should commit to supporting Ukraine militarily, both collectively and individually, with no less than 0.25% of their GDP annually, the resolution says . MEPs welcome US President Joe Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use advanced rocket systems on military targets within Russian territory and call for the EU and its member states to adopt similar measures. Emphasising the shared strategic interest in supporting Ukraine, they call for the EU and its member states to engage with the incoming administration in Washington to strengthen mutually beneficial transatlantic cooperation.

The resolution was adopted by 390 votes in favour, 135 against with 52 abstentions.

More information: European Parliament.