Zelensky invited to special EU summit on support for Ukraine

EU Council President Antonio Costa on Thursday said he had invited Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to the special summit of EU leaders on March 6, to discuss future support to Ukraine.
“The EU and its member states are ready to take more responsibility for Europe’s security,” Costa said in invitation letter to EU leaders.
“We should therefore be prepared for a possible European contribution to the security guarantees that will be necessary to ensure a lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Costa, who chairs the EU summits, said he aimed for decisions that would make the EU “better equipped to deal with immediate and future challenges to its security.”

Meanwhile, Zelensky is to visit Ireland today on his way to the US to seal a controversial deal with Donald Trump on the country’s rare earth minerals.

He will meet the taoiseach Micheál Martin, who has cancelled a trip to Belfast, at Shannon airport.

Ireland’s minister of state for European affairs and defence Thomas Byrne told a conference on the role of the Council of Europe in a lasting peace in Ukraine said: “There should be nothing about Europe without Europe. Together with our EU partners, Ireland, will continue to build global support for comprehensive, just and lasting peace on Ukraine’s terms, which upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and which is based on respect for the principles of the UN charter and international law.

And we know that if any peace agreement will last it must have justice and accountability at heart.”

Photo: A mural showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with an inscription ‘Glory to Ukraine!’ adorns the sidewall of an apartment building in Warsaw, Poland. EPA-EFE/ALBERT ZAWADA