MEPs debate the latest diplomatic attempts to de-escalate tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine. Introductory remark by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. Opening statements by Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council and by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission, and by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the WorldThis transcription is a result of an autolatic process. Please check against delivery.

EU - Ukraine (T)

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Russia (T)

BORRELL FONTELLES, Josep (PSE, ES, EC)

BEAUNE, Clément (FR)

EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine: opening statements by Charles MICHEL, President of the EU Council, Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the EU Commission, Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HR/VP of the EU

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/14217710/1645004946592_I218181Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Dear colleagues, as announced at the beginning of this subparts session. Our agenda of this week is dominated by the situation in Ukraine. Today we are starting our day with the most pressing debate on EU-Russia relations, European security and Russian's military threat against Ukraine amidst intense international diplomatic exchanges to de-escalate the situation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I am pleased to welcome the president of the European Council. Charles Michel, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and the higher representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Joseph Borel, who are with us to discuss the latest developments on the ground in the wider context of European security and EU Russia relations. Welcome to the plenary on behalf of the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We have repeatedly expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they continue to face the uncertainty of the past weeks and fear of Russian military aggression. What we are witnessing here is also a threat to peace in Europe. I want to recall that in September last year, the European Parliament adopted a resolution that called for containing Russian's influence in the EU and its eastern neighbourhood.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And in December last year, we also adopted a resolution where we criticised the actions of the Russian authorities and underlined our preparedness to agree swiftly on further joint action, including sanctions. Today, just after this debate, we will vote on granting one point two billion euros of macro financial assistance to Ukraine. And I would like to thank the European Commission for this timely proposal to support Ukraine's financial stability and resilience in the current difficult circumstances.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Also later today, the Conference of Presidents will discuss the declaration on the situation in Ukraine. I would like to stress that while we urge for a de-escalation of the current tension between Ukraine and Russia, this Parliament stands ready to support swift, forceful and concrete action in coordination with other European institutions. The Union's unity and close cooperation with our partners are key for the European Union to play a strong role on the international stage and to contribute to peace and security.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We would be interested to know how lessons learnt from the current situation will be reflected also in the works on the future Strategic Compass for the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Finally, I would like to thank you, President Michel, President von der Leyen and High Representative Borrell for your engagement in the intense consultation on identifying ways to address the situation at the EU's eastern borders and your efforts to uphold fundamental principles of the existing European security architecture. So without further delay, I would like to give the floor to the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, for your statement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Madam President of the European Parliament, Madam President, the Commission, the High Representative. Ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, this week is expected to be an important political week for the European Union. We will hold our joint summit with the African Union. Some 80 delegations of African and European leaders are arriving in Brussels to negotiate a strategic partnership between our two continents. Yet, the extremely serious situ.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Ation in Eastern Europe has stretched into all our agendas and allow me to lay out the range of actions taken by the EU to deal with this crisis in very close coordination with our allies. And let me explain how the European Council will approach our future decisions, whether in the short or long term.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Ladies and gentlemen, Russia has undertaken an unprecedented military installation against Ukraine. The Russian authorities have repeatedly said they have no aggressive intentions towards the sovereign country. And this despite already annexing part of Ukrainian territory, Crimea, in 2014 and constantly undermining Ukraine's sovereignty especially in eastern Ukraine, encircling a country with an extraordinary deployment of military forces never seen before can only be seen as aggressive and threatening behaviour.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, This escalation not only endangers the stability and integrity of Ukraine, it also threatens peace and security in Europe and the Rules-based international system. We, the EU, NATO allies, member states are working together at every level on a daily basis, consulting politically and acting together. We are working at the level of intensity and quality that we have not seen for years. Our unity is stronger than ever, and we have adopted a strong and clear strategy in three areas.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, First, diplomacy. We have chosen to give every opportunity to the diplomatic routes. European and American leaders have undertaken countless diplomatic initiatives and missions. We have activated negotiating platforms for dialogue with Russia such as NATO, the OSCE or the Normandy format. And I would like to commend Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron for the important role. We have never stopped giving priority to diplomatic channels, even when these efforts did not seem to produce immediate, tangible results.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Yet in the last two days, Russia has signalled that it may be open to diplomacy. And we urge Russia to take concrete and tangible steps towards de-escalation because this is the condition for sincere political dialogue. We cannot eternally attempt diplomacy on one side, while on the other side is amassing troops.

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Ladies and gentlemen, in addition to our diplomatic engagement, we are working on the second subject: and that is preparation of sanctions and restrictive. Both of them were that to be necessary. So the Council will look this with clarity to come up with a position of the 27 heads of state and government. If there were to be military aggression against Ukraine, the cost for Russia must be severe, the consequences must be massive. And we need to make sure that this concept that this will that there will be consequences for Europeans as well. And if the time were to come, we will have to assume that responsibility.

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, And I'd like to thank everyone for the preparatory work that has been carried out, by the High Representative and the Commission, the Council and the member states. And if it were necessary and the time when the time comes, the Council will make a statement and take the political decisions necessary. And we are in close contact and coordination with our partners and our allies.

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, To conclude, ladies and gentlemen, there's a third point that I believe is essential. This point would have an impact directly on support to Ukraine and support to the Ukrainian people. Now, this support must be, as it always has been, political to uphold the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. And we confirm this Euro-Atlantantic aspiration of Ukraine and the European aspiration of Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Now, through this financial support, we know that what is happening already is bringing about a daily significant economic impact on Ukraine. And we would like to commend the Commission's initiative to mobilise one point two billion in macro financial assistance. And I think we should go beyond that with what our with our partners. So that's why I would like to launch your initiative within closer cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union, a conference of donors to be able to support a robust economic situation in Ukraine that has been threatened by this threat to the country. To make sure that we can shore up support for the Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Now, two messages I would like to address at this point. Now, the first message I would like to address to the Ukrainian people: in 2014, the free and proud Ukrainian people took to Maidan and there were sacrifices that were made and they made the choice for freedom and for democracy, for liberal democracy, for the rule of law.

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, The European Union supported decided to support this free and sovereign choice of the Ukrainian people. And I would like to read the fact that the European Union will not allow the Ukrainian people to be left without support.

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, I would like the second message to address Russia and its leaders. That choice today is a choice between war and the tragic sacrifices that would go along with that war, or with the courage of a political engagement, the courage of a diplomatic negotiation. Very clearly, the European Union would be in favour of diplomacy and negotiation. And we will also show our stringency.

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, If another choice were to be made by Russia and aim for a sustainable solution to uphold the security, mutual and reciprocal stability and security. And this is why the Russian leaders owe this to the Russian people. Now, in just a few hours time, the 27 member states and will meet in Brussels for the African African Union-EU Summit. And I am sure that we will be resolute in expressing our solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, Shipments in case that they have to rush away from home. Others have stockpiled food cans to prepare for the worst. Some have even set up shelters in their basements. These are not stories from the 1940s. This is Europe. In 2022. And this is happening.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, Because of a deliberate policy of the of the Russian leadership. Ukraine is a sovereign country. It is making its own choices about its own future. But the Kremlin doesn't like this. And so it threatens war and this is the essence of the current escalation. This is something we simply cannot accept. I think diplomacy has not yet spoken its last words and we saw signs of hope yesterday. But now deeds have to follow those words.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, In the last seven years, Ukraine has suffered from the Kremlin's constant aggression. But despite that heavy burden, they have, Ukraine has come such a long way, it has taken important steps to fight corruption. It has rebuilt its infrastructure. It has created new jobs, its talented youth. And our union has accompanied them, putting together the largest support package in our history.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, Of course, the people of Ukraine know that their democracy still has some flaws and issues to deal with it. But Ukraine today is a sovereign, more free, more strong country than in 2014. And this is precisely why the Kremlin is threatening it again.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, We stand firm with Ukraine. The idea that the Kremlin should decide what Ukrainians can or cannot desire, we simply cannot accept. And the idea of spheres of influence are ghosts of the last century. This crisis is about Ukraine, yes. But it is also about much, much more. It is also about what it means to be a sovereign, independent and free country in the 21st century. It is about everyone's right to live free from fear, and it's about every country's right to determine its own future. And this is the message that our Union has to send to the Kremlin.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, Like everyone in this room, I truly hope that the Kremlin will decide not to unleash further violence in Europe. Yesterday, Russia was certainly sending conflicting signals. On the one hand, authorities announced Russian troops pull backs. On the other hand, the Duma votes for the formal recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, But I still strongly believe in diplomacy. It is good to hear yesterday's commitment to the Minsk agreement. President Macron, Chancellor Schulz have travelled to Kiev and Moscow. Several others are also speaking to both sides. I am constantly exchanging with all of them, as well as President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau, Prime Minister Johnson. I must really say the transatlantic community has for a long time not been so united last.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, Let me just mention one recent episode. Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov wrote thirty six letters to each and every member state of the European Union and NATO ally with a series of demands. He received two letters in response, one from Joseph Borrell on the behalf of the European Union and one from Jens Stoltenberg on behalf of NATO.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, The European Union and its trans-Atlantic partners are united in this crisis and our call to Russia is crystal clear. Do not choose war. A path of cooperation between Russia and us is still possible. But let us stay vigilant. Despite yesterday's news, NATO has not yet seen signs of any Russian troop reduction. And should the Kremlin choose violence against Ukraine, our response will be strong and united. The European Commission and the EEAS working closely, have been working closely with all member states to prepare a robust and comprehensive package of potential sanctions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, And we have worked in very close coordination with our friends from the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. And let me say that in these weeks we have built a unity of purpose that is truly remarkable both within the European Union and with our partners. In case of a Russian aggression, Europe's reaction will be swift and robust. And we are not just talking about freezing assets and banning travel for Russian individuals.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, Russia's strategic interest is to diversify its economy, its one sided economy, and to close its current gaps. But for this, they need technologies in which we have a global leadership, high tech components of which Russia is almost entirely dependent on us. So our sanctions can bite very hard.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, And the Kremlin knows this as well. And on another topic, we are also ready in case that the Russian leadership decides to weaponize the energy issue. You know, we see at a time of high demand that Gazprom is restricting its gas supplies to Europe. We see a 10 year low in storage by Gazprom. We see no sales on the stock market. This is a strange behaviour for a company that in times of skyrocketing demand and prices, they are not trying to maximise their profits. And this behaviour has already damaged Russia's credibility as a reliable energy supplier.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, We are six weeks in talks with a number of countries that are ready to step up their exports of liquefied natural gas to the European Union and this resulted now in January. In record deliveries of LNG gas, more than 120 vessels, that is the equivalent of ten billion cubic metres of LNG. And on top, we've done our homework since the annexation of Crimea.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, We have increased the number of LNG terminals in the European Union. We have reinforced our pan-European pipeline and electricity interconnector network and the good part in this story is that these investments in infrastructure we have done will in future be the backbone for the possibility to supply with green hydro. So they are future proof.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, And now we have, during the last weeks looked into all possible disruption scenarios in case Russia decides to partially or completely disrupt gas supplies to the European Union and I can say today that our models show with all the measures we have taken, that we are now on the safe side for this winter. On top of this, we have also developed with a number of member states, a new set of emergency measures which we could trigger in case of complete disruptions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, But one of the main lessons we have already learnt from this crisis, honourable members, is that we must diversify our energy sources and we must get rid of the dependency of Russian gas. We must heavily invest in renewables. Our alternative are renewables because those renewables are clean and good for the climate. But they are also Home-Grown and good for our independence. That's where our future lies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, Honourable members. This is a crisis that has been created by Moscow. We have not chosen confrontation. We are hoping for the best, but we are prepared for the worst. We now have two distinct futures ahead of us. In one, the Kremlin decides to wage war against Ukraine with massive human costs, something we thought we had left behind after the tragedies of the 20th century.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, Moscow's relation with us would be severely damaged. Tough sanctions would kick in with dire consequences on the Russian economy and its prospect of modernisation. But another future is possible a future in which Russia and Europe cooperate on their shared interests.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, A future where free countries work together in peace. A future of prosperity built on the respect of the fundamental principles that are enshrined in the UN Charter and in the European security architecture. Since the Helsinki Final Act. This is my aspiration, and I'm sure the Russian people share this aspiration to it's now up to the Kremlin to decide.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, But whatever path they decide to take, we will stand our ground. Europe will be united on the side of Ukraine, on the side of peace and on the side of Europe's people. Long live Europe. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, President of the European Parliament, president of the European Council and president of the European Commission. Honourable members, if we take a look at what is happening in Ukraine, this, I think, is going to determine the future of humanity. I think everybody, all human beings, must be concerned about what is happening there, because if once again, it's the law of the strongest and if we see that a country can threaten another and invade it, threaten it in territorial terms, we're taking a step back in our history.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, The major success in Europe is that we have turned our backs on war as a way to resolve conflicts. And I think this is the reason why we have to stand side by side with Ukraine and to prevent a war on our borders. And all of this forms a fundamental part of what we call the common defence and security policy. And it is a great honour for me to try and spell this out for you today.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, We have the presence in the chamber today in the hemicycle of the leaders of all the institutions. We have the president of the European Council and the we have the president of the European Commission, the European Parliament. And I am here on the behalf of the EEAS as the leader of the actions of security and defence in the European Union. And we are here together to show our unity against the Russian threat of invasion of Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, And this unity and solidarity, I think, has come to the fore over the past few days. So we have to take a look at how we can have positive consequences of this crisis that has been a coming together a common position of the member states. And all Europeans have responded positively to come up with a response. We call this sanctions or deterrent measures. And all of this pursuant to the treaty.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, We're looking at sanctions which would have to be adopted by the council following a proposal by the high representative. And these are going to be draughted, of course, are being draughted together with the help and support of the European Commission in order to take a look at the costs while these are actually going to mean and obviously under the European Council and obviously these will come into play if Russia invades Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, But perhaps I can insist on a fundamental aspect of our union, which I think is the most positive consequence to come out of this crisis. This is a crisis that has been based on a threat to the territorial integrity of a state. It is a crisis that has come about and affects the whole security structure in Europe. And this is something that cannot be questioned at all. Through threats of this kind. And it's the crisis that affects the right of every sovereign state to freely choose its own security structure. And its own international relations.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, Which has been the role of European diplomacy in these events? It has been said that Europe was missing in action. We have heard that European is missing in actions and things are happening without our presence, without the participation, led by United States who are negotiating over our head. I think that we have to respond to this criticism, which seems at all unfunded by several reasons.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, First, because a member State of the Union have consistently debating the issue of security in Europe and Ukraine. And we have achieved a remarkable unity because several member states, France and Germany, have taken a number of political initiative to promote a peaceful settlement of the crisis. And these initiatives are being carried in coherence with the positions of the union and in conditions of great transparency.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, And third, because Russia deliberately tried to ignore the existence of the European Union by sending letters only to the United States and NATO in December. Considering that we are completely irrelevant and has nothing to say about the security issues in Europe. For Moscow, the security in Europe is being defined in Washington. Later, when they will notice that despite this dismissive attitude, nothing was going on. Mr. Lavrov finally decided to send a letter to the 27 member states that he had in note it until now.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, Why such a U-turn on the Russian position? For two reasons. First, because they realise that European front was not crack and Atlantic solidarity was very strong. So he tried to manoeuvre, which was to send letters to the 27 member states hoping to have 27 different answers. But in this case, Mr. Lavrov, it didn't succeeded because we sent him a single letter saving him the time to learn to read 27 letters. All of them equal just one one letter representing the position of the union on behalf of the 27 member states.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, And this is a good example of how we Europeans, we can work together and together with our allies, with the US and other like minded countries with which we have had a continuous and very much positive coordination. So we have been present participating on the negotiations, if we can call them negotiations.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, There are encouraging signs, but also very much worrisome events like the vote in the Duma, asking Putin to recognise the independency of the two, let's say, republic in the Donbas. We don't know what Putin is going to do. But what is clear that we have to continue offering both things at the same time, they are willing to negotiate, be ready to participate in talks because, yes, Russia has also security concerns that has to be taken into consideration.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Commission, And on the other hand, to prepare our capacity to respond, our dissuasion to sanctions as a partner of the ommission and the President of the Council has been referring to, on that we have been working, and on that we are ready to act. But most of all, we are ready to continue negotiations in order to look for a diplomatic solution to the worst crisis that Europe is living since the end of the Cold War. And I repeat again, this crisis not only affects Ukrainians, not only the Europeans, it's affect the direction of humankind. Thank you very much.