On His Final Official Visit, Josep Borrell Warmly Reaffirms EU’s Support for Ukraine and Its People

Opening statement from Andrii Sibyha

In his opening remarks, Andrii Sybiha emphasized the importance of strengthening frontline military support for Ukraine, bolstering resilience ahead of winter, and advancing the Peace Formula as part of Ukraine’s victory plan.

Sybiha noted a shared understanding with the United States on the need to increase support for Ukraine, underlining that the future of European and global security architecture is being determined on Ukrainian soil. He highlighted that appeasing aggressors is a failed approach—one that didn’t work in the past and won’t work today.

“A just peace in Ukraine is a guarantee of peace, stability, and freedom for all of Europe,” Sybiha said, pointing out that today marks the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. He expressed solidarity with the German people and all Europeans on this historic occasion, a powerful reminder of the value of unity and resilience in the face of oppression.

Sybiha also addressed concerns about North Korea’s alleged involvement in the war against Ukraine, describing it as a direct threat not only to Europe but also to Southeast Asia. He called on the European Union to respond decisively to this unacceptable escalation, stressing the need for removing restrictions on the use of long-range weapons and supporting Ukraine’s multi-layered air defense systems, which would also leverage the capabilities of neighboring allied countries.

Expressing gratitude to the EU and its member states, Sybiha recognized their continuous military assistance, now exceeding 44 billion euros, and gave special thanks to Josep Borrell.

“During times of critical shortages, Josep was instrumental in pushing for essential decisions on arms and ammunition. Ukrainians will always remember this, and we are grateful,” Sybiha stated. He concluded by highlighting ongoing cooperation with the EU in supplying artillery ammunition, utilizing frozen Russian assets for defense needs, training Ukrainian troops, and involving EU resources in demining efforts and joint arms production.

Josep Borrell’s opening statement

Josep Borrell underscored the European Union’s unwavering commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s defense and resilience as the war nears the 1,000-day mark.

In the beginning of his speech, Borrell stated: “But also, don’t forget. I’m sure you are aware that it is the 4000 days since the [Russian] aggression started,” reminding that Russia has started it’s aggression against Ukraine in 2014.

He reinforced the importance of decisive action against Russian aggression, stating, “We shoot down the arrows, we do that a lot. We need to eliminate the archers.”

On the right of self-defense of Ukraine, Borrell affirmed that EU needs to proceed with faster deliveries and “fewer self-imposed red lights”.

Borrell stressed, that faster and increased military support, including training, funding, and the allowance for Ukraine to strike military targets, is essential for Ukraine’s survival. “Time is measured in Ukrainian lives,” he remarked, underscoring the urgent need for rapid assistance to avoid prolonging discussions that cost lives on the ground. “Every day that we are discussing about how much support are we going to provide, this is measured in Ukrainian lives,” he said.

Borrell also addressed Russia’s cooperation with North Korea, highlighting that “by increasing military cooperation between Russia and the so-called Democratic Republic of Korea, they show how this war is further globalized.” This alliance, he noted, poses threats beyond Ukraine, impacting global security and allies in South Korea and beyond.

“So the security of South Korea depends on Ukraine,” Borrell stressed. “The world peace and security depends on how the war goes here in Ukraine, against Ukraine.”

He affirmed the EU’s support for Ukraine’s peace formula but added that real peace requires pressure on Putin, who “doesn’t want to negotiate and will not negotiate unless it is forced to do it.”

On the US support for Ukraine and territorial concessions

Sibyha stressed that Ukraine’s resilience in the face of Russian aggression speaks to the strength of Ukrainian people and allies. “We continue to fight for peace, and our support remains crucial.”

He then added, that President Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump before, discussing a peace plan and Ukraine’s NATO aspirations. “We are open to dialogue with any future US leadership, with a focus on a just peace, not appeasement,” he said.

Borrell said, that the EU remains committed to supporting Ukraine with military, financial, and humanitarian aid. “The EU has contributed 47% of global support for Ukraine. We’re strengthening Ukraine’s defense industry and extending our training mission for Ukrainian soldiers. We’ve also imposed sanctions on Russia and are working on increasing Ukraine’s energy resilience. The EU’s support remains firm, and we’ll continue to provide the necessary resources to help Ukraine defend itself.”

On North Korean Troops, participating in Russian war against Ukraine

Borrell stressed on the importance on putting diplomatic pressure on North Korea, stating: “Who could have imagined North Korean troops fighting on the Eastern front? Before coming here, I was in Seoul—not by accident—but to apply diplomatic pressure on the Pacific region, especially on North Korea and its neighbors. We continue to push for a diplomatic resolution to avoid an escalation.”

Additionally, Borrell said, that no consensus has yet been reached on extending EU training missions into Ukrainian territory, but training continues at scale, with around 75,000 soldiers involved. Of these, 60,000 have completed their training, and an additional 15,000 are set to follow. The mission, currently conducted as close to Ukraine’s border as possible, is not strictly defensive and may evolve based on developments. For now, the focus remains on ensuring Ukrainian troops are well-prepared for frontline survival, with potential for future expansion if the EU agrees.

“If the EU reaches a consensus on expanding into Ukrainian territory, it could happen, but for now, my role is to ensure the training of Ukrainian soldiers continues to grow, as well-trained soldiers are essential for survival on the front lines,” he concluded.

On November 7, spokesperson of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Heorhii Tykhyi dismissed recent “media-circulated” suggestions of freezing the war, stating they don’t reflect official positions and lack value for discussion.