European Union pledges support for Ukraine – discussion on defence will continue 

The European Union reaffirmed its support for Ukraine when the leaders of the Member States met in Brussels on 19 December. The European Council held an in-depth discussion on Ukraine and the EU’s role on the global stage. Petteri Orpo represented Finland at the meeting. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also in attendance.

The EU reiterated its commitment to providing political, financial, economic, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed. At the same time, the Union is prepared to ramp up its sanctions against Russia.

Prime Minister Orpo stressed the need for the EU to send a clear message in the rapidly changing international situation. Europe must be firm in its position when discussing Ukraine’s future. With this in mind, Orpo noted, dialogue with the incoming US administration led by Donald Trump is especially important.

“We must continue to support Ukraine militarily and by all other means. Ukraine’s position must be strengthened. Peace cannot be made without Ukraine’s consent, or over Europe’s head. Russia cannot leave the negotiating table as a winner. If peace is not accepted by the Ukrainian people, we will face consequences down the line,” the Prime Minister said.

The discussion on European defence will continue in the new year. The EU leaders will next meet at an informal meeting in Belgium on 3 February 2025.

The European Council called on the Union to strengthen preparedness and resilience to crises in line with former president Sauli Niinistö’s report on the matter. The Council called on the European Commission to draw up a strategy on preparedness for crises.

The EU leaders also discussed the Middle East, migration, enlargement and key foreign policy issues.

Exactly 50 years have passed since the European Council was established. Then-French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing convened the first informal meeting of heads of state or government in Paris in December 1974. Soon thereafter, in March 1975, they held their first official meeting as the European Council in Dublin.

Inquiries: Tuomas Tikkanen, Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister in European Affairs, tel. +358 40 523 5768, Elisa Tarkiainen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 50 433 4533 and Marko Ruonala, Project Manager (Communications), tel. +358 50 522 8233, Prime Minister’s Office