MEPs debate the results of the 15 December EU summit with European Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. During the summit, heads of state or government focussed on the latest developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine and how to to assist Ukraine given Russia’s continued targeting of vital Ukrainian infrastructure over the winter. Extracts from the debate.

debate

plenary session

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

MICHEL, Charles (BE)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

European Council meeting 15 December 2022 (T)

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 15 December 2022: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Russia has pursued a strategy of destruction, a strategy of terror, trying to bomb the people of Ukraine into submission. And we have witnessed this strategy in the Bakhmut, in Salida or more recently in Dnipro. But Ukrainians are resisting and they will continue to resist. And we the European Union, will continue to support them for as long as it takes

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, ]We have sent nearly 80,000 tonnes of material such as generators, boilers and transformers. The European Union and its Member States massively support in Ukraine. We have already committed nearly &euro;50 billion and European citizens are in favour of this support.

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, I can't finish without leaving you with a thought for women, young people and the people of Iran who are rising up against a brutal regime, a regime that keeps them in a reign of terror. And the council aims to boost the sanctions regime. And this is particularly the case because Iran is supporting Russia militarily in its attack on Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The latest symbol of Russia's terror is you might have all seen it, a yellow kitchen, a very simple yellow kitchen and an apartment building in Dnipro. One day the room is filled with happiness. A little girl celebrates her birthday, surrounded by this yellow furniture and by a loving family. The day after the kitchen is no more. The family is no more. The girl's father has been killed by Russian missiles. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, So we've been able to completely get rid of the Russian coal. We have been able to wind out wind down the Russian oil. We have been able to really fence off the blackmail of Russia what the gas is concerned because Putin decided to cut 80% of the gas supply. And this was a big strategic mistake. We freed ourselves from his grip and thus, honourable member that we came through this winter safely is first and foremost the result of unity, the result of collective hard work and I think we should take pride in this

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We now have to prepare for next winter and here the joint energy platform is up and running with the support of Member States and European industry. We are creating a European consortium that will allow us to aggregate demand and effectively leverage the EU's political and market weight. That's what we always wanted. Our collective market power of 27. Now we aim at launching negotiations with a key international gas suppliers already in early spring, with the aim to conclude first joint contracts well before summer.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We have just been informed that the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, under leadership of his ministry, has been killed in a helicopter crash near Kiev. We are informed that an investigation is underway to establish the cause. And I think I speak on all our behalf when I say that our thoughts and those of this House are with all the brave people of Ukraine, with the families and loved ones of Minister Monastirsky and First Deputy Yenin, and with all those tragically killed, allegedly also children. We mourn with them today and we will remain by their side.