European Parliament: Support for Ukraine - serious financial challenge for Europe

President of the European Parliament (EP) Roberta Metsola has admitted that she was worried about fatigue in Europe from supporting Ukraine, and called assistance to Kyiv a “serious financial challenge”.

“This is a serious financial challenge for Europe. First, the political leaders make efforts. We have said that we will support Ukraine as long as it is necessary, and we must keep this promise. I will continue working together with the overwhelming majority of the parliament with the hope that within this year we will take a political decision to open negotiations on [Ukraine’s] accession to the EU, which will be a sign that we are not succumbing to any fatigue,” she said in an interview with Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Metsola noted that "the best thing the EU can do is for the European Council to send a strong political signal next week, facilitating formal EU accession negotiations with Kyiv".

She added that not all countries agree with this.

“Negotiations are ongoing. However, we were in a similar situation with sanctions against Russia, and I think that we have good prospects,” Metsola stressed.