BRUSSELS, March 23 (KUNA) - The European Union Thursday said the 27-member bloc is increasing efforts to help meet Ukraine's military and defence needs and will continue increasing pressure on Moscow by imposing more sanctions.
"The European Council (summit of EU leaders) welcomes the agreement to urgently deliver ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition to Ukraine and, if requested, missiles, including through joint procurement," it said in a statement after a discussion on Ukraine during their meeting in Brussels this afternoon.
The agreement aims at providing one million rounds of artillery ammunition in a joint effort within the next twelve months, noted the statement.
The leaders said the EU will maintain and increase "collective pressure on Russia, including through possible further restrictive measures, and to continue working on the oil price cap together with partners".
They underlined the "effective implementation" of sanctions against Russia and to prevent circumvention of the sanctions by third countries.
The European Council condemned "the continued military support for Russia's war of aggression provided by Iran and Belarus. It urges all countries not to provide material or other support for Russia's war of aggression." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the EU leaders by video. (end) nk.ibi