Media: Pro-Ukraine pledges proving too contentious for EU-Gulf summit Amid draft leak

Ahead of a leaders’ summit on October 16 in Brussels, the EU is facing challenges in securing Gulf countries' support for a series of pro-Ukraine commitments, according to a leaked draft statement.

This summit, the first of its kind, aims to showcase unity on various issues, including trade, energy, and security. However, the leaked document reveals significant disagreements between the EU and Gulf states regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

For instance, the EU suggested language urging all nations to stop providing material support to Russia and condemned Iran for supplying missiles and drones to Moscow. In contrast, Gulf nations preferred more neutral phrasing that simply called for all parties to cease arms shipments to the conflict. A potential compromise being considered is to remove this contentious paragraph entirely.

Additionally, Gulf states proposed deleting a section that aimed to enhance cooperation on circumventing sanctions—a clear reference to the penalties imposed by Western allies on Russia and the ongoing difficulties in enforcing them. The UAE, one of the participating Gulf nations, has reportedly been a notable concern for Western countries regarding sanctions evasion.

These linguistic disputes highlight the broader challenges the EU and its Western partners face in garnering support for Ukraine while limiting Russia's influence.

Despite the contentious topics, both sides seem to have found common ground on several issues. They are expected to condemn recent missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, a significant concern with winter approaching, though Russia will not be explicitly named in the statement. Additionally, they plan to reaffirm their partnership in energy, emphasizing renewable sources, hydrogen, and commitments to climate agreements like the Paris Agreement.

However, the EU’s increasing fossil fuel relationship with Qatar, which has been supplying Europe with more liquid natural gas to reduce reliance on Russian energy, was not addressed in the draft.

On the trade front, the EU is pursuing bilateral agreements with individual Gulf countries after a previous effort to secure a comprehensive deal for the entire Gulf region collapsed in 2008. The draft indicates Gulf nations are pushing back against the EU’s focus on bilateral agreements, advocating for a return to regional negotiations. Notably, Saudi Arabia prefers a region-wide agreement, while the UAE is keen to initiate bilateral trade discussions with the EU before the end of the year.

By Vafa Guliyeva