JOINT STATEMENT BY MEMBERS OF THE on ’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders

Brussels, 15 April 2021 - “We strongly welcome the statement by the G7 Foreign Ministers and the EU High Representative on Ukraine of 12 April 2021 expressing concerns over the ongoing build- up of Russian military forces on Ukraine’s borders and in illegally-annexed Crimea.

We share the position that such large-scale movements, without prior notification, represent threatening and destabilising activities, and pose a serious threat to the Eastern Europe region. Russia’s political leadership bears a full responsibility for these dangerous actions. Moreover, this further complicates the implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

Our solidarity is with the people of Ukraine, who, in addition to the hardships and losses caused by Russia’s actions in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, are suffering greatly from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We call on the Euro-Atlantic community to support and promote Ukraine’s accession to NATO. In addition, as part of the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements, we urge the EU and its Member States to establish an EU-led common security and defence policy (CSDP) mission to eastern Ukraine focused on assisting in tasks such as demining, preparations for local elections and securing free access for humanitarian aid organisations.

Let there be no doubt that Ukraine’s security is an integral part of the security of Europe as a whole.”

Petras Auštrevičius, Renew Europe, Lithuania Ivan Štefanec, EPP, Slovakia , ECR, , EPP, Lithuania Bernard Guetta, Renew Europe, Rasa Juknevičienė, EPP, Lithuania Radosław Sikorski, EPP, Poland Andrus Ansip, Renew Europe, Estonia Jarosław Duda, EPP, Poland Michal Šimečka, Renew Europe, Slovakia , EPP, Bronis Ropė, Greens/EFA, Lithuania , EPP, Latvia Martin Hojsík, Renew Europe, Slovakia Liudas Mažylis, EPP, Lithuania , ECR, Poland , EPP, Sweden Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, Greens/EFA, Germany , EPP, Bulgaria Danuta Hübner, EPP, Poland Karen Melchior, Renew Europe, Denmark Juozas Olekas, S&D, Lithuania Dragoş Tudorache, Renew Europe, Romania