02:40High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that 'it's good' the EU can use the windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to aid Kiev ahead of signing a joint 'security commitments' agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the first day of the EU Summit in Brussels on Thursday.
"These security commitments cover the military, the financial, the diplomatic and in particular it will be the way of channeling the resources coming from Russia frozen assets," Borrell said.
"It's good that we could take this money and to provide more military support to Ukraine - training their soldiers, developing their defense industry and providing more military support. I think today is a good moment to continue showing our unwavering commitment to support Ukraine," he continued.
Borrell also stated that the EU has been 'underinvesting in defence', admitting that the bloc does not have 'enough resources' for 'a big push' in their defence capabilities.
"Now, we have to recover the time we have lost," he added. "We have to think about how do we finance the big push to increase our defence capabilities. That's not going to be easy, because neither the member states nor that the European Union have enough resources to make a big push. But it's clear that it's a Europe crisis - Europe has been underinvesting in defence."
This comes after French President Emmanuel Macron urged the European Union to double the European budget to 'boost' investment in Europe's defence development.
The EU Summit will take place on June 27 and 28. The summit will include discussions surrounding the EU's security and defence, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the use of Russian frozen assets for Ukraine's aid, the Israel-Hamas war and the future direction of the EU.
Discussions will also focus on appointing high-profile EU roles such as the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
During his doorstep remarks, Borrell expressed concern over the situation in the Gaza Strip as fighting continues for the ninth month between Israel and Hamas.
"Biden's plan has not been implemented. Neither one side nor the other has been willing to implement this plan, despite the fact that it was the Security Council resolution backing this plan," he said.
On June 10, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution for a peace plan proposed by US President Joe Biden to stop the war in Gaza. The three-phase plan includes an immediate ceasefire, the release of the remaining hostages and the reconstruction of the besieged enclave.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he is ready to agree on a 'partial' cease-fire deal without stopping the war, declaring commitment to the 'elimination of Hamas'.
"Now, what do we see? We see starvation continues, bombing continues, humanitarian support is not entering to Gaza. Last day the Managing Director of the World Food Program Cindy McCain insisted on the idea that nothing has changed in Gaza - [not the] starvation, bombing, malnutrition. That is something that the international community has to deal with."
The high representative also called for de-escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, stating that "we have to stop the spillover of the war."
Tensions flared between Israel and Hezbollah, with frequent cross-border fire exchanges, after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 37,431 people had been killed and more than 85,653 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
'It's good we could take this money' - Borrell on Russian revenues for Ukraine, admits EU doesn't have resources for 'big push'
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that 'it's good' the EU can use the windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to aid Kiev ahead of signing a joint 'security commitments' agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the first day of the EU Summit in Brussels on Thursday.
"These security commitments cover the military, the financial, the diplomatic and in particular it will be the way of channeling the resources coming from Russia frozen assets," Borrell said.
"It's good that we could take this money and to provide more military support to Ukraine - training their soldiers, developing their defense industry and providing more military support. I think today is a good moment to continue showing our unwavering commitment to support Ukraine," he continued.
Borrell also stated that the EU has been 'underinvesting in defence', admitting that the bloc does not have 'enough resources' for 'a big push' in their defence capabilities.
"Now, we have to recover the time we have lost," he added. "We have to think about how do we finance the big push to increase our defence capabilities. That's not going to be easy, because neither the member states nor that the European Union have enough resources to make a big push. But it's clear that it's a Europe crisis - Europe has been underinvesting in defence."
This comes after French President Emmanuel Macron urged the European Union to double the European budget to 'boost' investment in Europe's defence development.
The EU Summit will take place on June 27 and 28. The summit will include discussions surrounding the EU's security and defence, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the use of Russian frozen assets for Ukraine's aid, the Israel-Hamas war and the future direction of the EU.
Discussions will also focus on appointing high-profile EU roles such as the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
During his doorstep remarks, Borrell expressed concern over the situation in the Gaza Strip as fighting continues for the ninth month between Israel and Hamas.
"Biden's plan has not been implemented. Neither one side nor the other has been willing to implement this plan, despite the fact that it was the Security Council resolution backing this plan," he said.
On June 10, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution for a peace plan proposed by US President Joe Biden to stop the war in Gaza. The three-phase plan includes an immediate ceasefire, the release of the remaining hostages and the reconstruction of the besieged enclave.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he is ready to agree on a 'partial' cease-fire deal without stopping the war, declaring commitment to the 'elimination of Hamas'.
"Now, what do we see? We see starvation continues, bombing continues, humanitarian support is not entering to Gaza. Last day the Managing Director of the World Food Program Cindy McCain insisted on the idea that nothing has changed in Gaza - [not the] starvation, bombing, malnutrition. That is something that the international community has to deal with."
The high representative also called for de-escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, stating that "we have to stop the spillover of the war."
Tensions flared between Israel and Hezbollah, with frequent cross-border fire exchanges, after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 37,431 people had been killed and more than 85,653 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that 'it's good' the EU can use the windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to aid Kiev ahead of signing a joint 'security commitments' agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the first day of the EU Summit in Brussels on Thursday.
"These security commitments cover the military, the financial, the diplomatic and in particular it will be the way of channeling the resources coming from Russia frozen assets," Borrell said.
"It's good that we could take this money and to provide more military support to Ukraine - training their soldiers, developing their defense industry and providing more military support. I think today is a good moment to continue showing our unwavering commitment to support Ukraine," he continued.
Borrell also stated that the EU has been 'underinvesting in defence', admitting that the bloc does not have 'enough resources' for 'a big push' in their defence capabilities.
"Now, we have to recover the time we have lost," he added. "We have to think about how do we finance the big push to increase our defence capabilities. That's not going to be easy, because neither the member states nor that the European Union have enough resources to make a big push. But it's clear that it's a Europe crisis - Europe has been underinvesting in defence."
This comes after French President Emmanuel Macron urged the European Union to double the European budget to 'boost' investment in Europe's defence development.
The EU Summit will take place on June 27 and 28. The summit will include discussions surrounding the EU's security and defence, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the use of Russian frozen assets for Ukraine's aid, the Israel-Hamas war and the future direction of the EU.
Discussions will also focus on appointing high-profile EU roles such as the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
During his doorstep remarks, Borrell expressed concern over the situation in the Gaza Strip as fighting continues for the ninth month between Israel and Hamas.
"Biden's plan has not been implemented. Neither one side nor the other has been willing to implement this plan, despite the fact that it was the Security Council resolution backing this plan," he said.
On June 10, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution for a peace plan proposed by US President Joe Biden to stop the war in Gaza. The three-phase plan includes an immediate ceasefire, the release of the remaining hostages and the reconstruction of the besieged enclave.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he is ready to agree on a 'partial' cease-fire deal without stopping the war, declaring commitment to the 'elimination of Hamas'.
"Now, what do we see? We see starvation continues, bombing continues, humanitarian support is not entering to Gaza. Last day the Managing Director of the World Food Program Cindy McCain insisted on the idea that nothing has changed in Gaza - [not the] starvation, bombing, malnutrition. That is something that the international community has to deal with."
The high representative also called for de-escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, stating that "we have to stop the spillover of the war."
Tensions flared between Israel and Hezbollah, with frequent cross-border fire exchanges, after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 37,431 people had been killed and more than 85,653 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.