EU diplomat: Ukraine must remain "porcupine of steel" even during ceasefire

The possibility of a 30-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia has raised concerns about the future of military support to Kyiv. However, European Union officials have made it clear that they do not intend to halt arms deliveries to Ukraine, even if a ceasefire is reached.

At a briefing in Brussels, a senior EU diplomat emphasized that the EU is working to ensure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position for peace talks, Caliber.Az reports referring to German media.

"The EU is pushing for Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position in the peace talks, and to be able to reject a 'bad' deal, as Trump would say, and to choose the most appropriate moment for negotiations," the diplomat stated. He also made it clear that the EU would not stop supplying arms to Kyiv, especially if Russia demanded such a condition for a ceasefire.

Another EU diplomat echoed the sentiment, arguing that Ukraine should remain armed during any potential ceasefire. "The fighting is still going on, but even if there is a pause, we need to make Ukraine a 'porcupine of steel,'" he said. This remark highlights the EU’s determination to ensure Ukraine retains a strong defensive posture, even during a temporary break in the conflict.

The diplomat emphasized that it was crucial to keep Ukraine in a strong negotiating position. "It is important to prevent the Russians from taking advantage of a 'second chance' to regroup and attack again," he added, underlining the need for strategic caution.

A fourth diplomat reinforced the EU's stance, asserting that the alliance should not weaken its support for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. "The idea is that by being in a strong position, Ukraine should improve its defensive capabilities and be able to continue deterrence in case of renewed hostilities," the diplomat explained.

Meanwhile, the EU foreign ministers are set to discuss the situation surrounding the ongoing discussions on a ceasefire on Monday, March 17, during a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. Ukraine's foreign minister Andriy Sibiga will join the meeting via video link. Brussels continues to stress that Ukraine's defence is directly tied to the security of the EU, and thus it will not accept any negotiations on the future of the European continent without EU participation.

The ministers are also expected to discuss an initiative by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kai Kallas, to provide a new military aid package to Ukraine. The package, which is estimated to be between 20 and 40 billion euros, will include artillery shells, air defence systems, missiles, and equipment to train and equip entire Ukrainian military brigades in 2025.

The first version of Kallas' proposal did not specify an exact amount, but discussions now focus on a finalized version with a minimum threshold of 20 billion euros. "20 billion is the amount the EU has allocated to Ukraine in 2024, and 40 billion would cover the potential withdrawal of aid from the US, which has allocated 16 billion in 2024," a European diplomat explained.

Despite the momentum, diplomats do not expect a concrete decision on the package at the upcoming EU summit on March 20-21. Hungary is expected to refuse to join the initiative, and a lack of consensus among EU members is likely. Additionally, some countries still have concerns about the practical implementation of the aid package, including questions about the amounts, timing, and burden-sharing among the EU members.

By Tamilla Hasanova