EU leaders underline support to Ukraine, condemn Russia

BRUSSELS, March 11 (KUNA) -- Leaders of the 27-member European Union (EU) condemned Russia for "unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine "and underlined their unwavering support for Ukraine.
"Two weeks ago Russia brought war back to Europe, Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine grossly violates international law and the principles of the UN Charter," they said in a statement released Friday after the first of a two-day informal summit in Versailles, France, which currently holds the EU Presidency.
They welcomed the decision of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to open an investigation and demanded that Russia ceases its military action and withdraws all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine immediately and unconditionally.
The statement stressed that EU and its Member States will continue to provide Ukraine "coordinated political, financial, material and humanitarian support".
"We are committed to provide support for the reconstruction of a democratic Ukraine once the Russian onslaught has ceased," it added.
The EU leaders "acknowledged the European aspirations and the European choice of Ukraine" and said that its EU membership application has been "swiftly" transmitted to the European Commission for "its opinion on this application in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaties." "We are determined to increase even further our pressure on Russia and Belarus, We have adopted significant sanctions and remain ready to move quickly" said the statement. (end) nk.gaa