Sign in Subscribe
Foreign military assistance

Europe Unites in Support of Ukraine as Winter Fighting Looms

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, joined forces to bolster support for Kyiv as winter approaches. The meeting, held in London, aimed to promote a boycott of Russian oil and gas, provide a possible loan to Ukraine using Russian sovereign assets, and accelerate arms shipments. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine praised the decision, saying Russia was carrying out a "campaign of terror against our energy system" and that their goal remains to "break us." The European Union followed up with its own sanctions and pledged to continue funding Ukraine's financial and military needs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, and NATO assembled a meeting in London to promote a boycott of Russian oil and gas and accelerate arms shipments to Ukraine.
  • The European Union imposed its own sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, and pledged to continue funding Ukraine's financial and military needs.
  • Britain announced it would speed the delivery of an extra 140 air-defense missiles after production ramped up faster than expected.
  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised President Trump's decision to impose sanctions on Russia, saying, "We must now maintain this pressure" and "dial up the pressure on Putin" to bring him to the negotiating table.
  • President Vladimir Putin of Russia called the sanctions "an unfriendly act," and said Moscow would never make concessions under pressure.
  • European leaders were unable to agree on a plan to use frozen Russian assets to finance a large loan to Ukraine, with Belgium voicing concerns about legal liability.
  • NATO's Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, noted that although President Trump had ruled out Tomahawk missiles, the US was still supplying a "wide range of weapons" to Ukraine.
  • Military commanders are developing plans to secure Ukraine in case of a cease-fire and peace negotiation, with Germany's Lt. Gen. Alexander Sollfrank suggesting a creative military plan could serve as leverage for diplomatic efforts.
  • The meeting was attended by 20 other leaders, including Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who joined by videoconference.

Statistics:

  • 140: the number of additional air-defense missiles the UK will send to Ukraine.
  • 20: the number of leaders attending the meeting by videoconference, including Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
  • 3: the number of times King Charles III has met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2023.
  • 2: the number of major Russian oil companies sanctioned by the European Union (Rosneft and Lukoil).
  • 1: the time a Japanese leader has taken part in these sessions, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the meeting by videoconference.

Sources:

  • The New York Times, 10 November 2023
  • HENRY NICHOLLS/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, VIA POOL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
  • Steven Erlanger, "European Leaders Meet to Bolster Support for Ukraine as Winter Fighting Looms", The New York Times, 10 November 2023.

Read more