EU leaders call for ‘immediate humanitarian pause’ in Gaza – Europe live | Ukraine

The European Council president, Charles Michel, said European leaders have agreed on a unified statement on the Middle East.

“The EU calls for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire. Full & safe humanitarian access into Gaza is essential to provide the civilian population with life-saving assistance in a catastrophic situation in Gaza,” he said.

In the text agreed by the EU’s 27 heads of state and government, the leaders declare:

The European Council calls for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance.

The statement also condemns Hamas “in the strongest possible terms for its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel on 7 October 2023, recognising Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law, and calling for the immediate release of all hostages without any precondition.”

It adds:

The European Council is deeply concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its disproportionate effect on civilians, particularly children, as well as the imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid into Gaza.

Full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout the Gaza Strip via all routes is essential to provide the civilian population with life-saving assistance and basic services at scale.

The conclusions also note that “immediate measures should be taken to prevent any further population displacement and provide safe shelter to the population to ensure that civilians are protected at all times.”

Here’s the full text on the Middle East:

Charles Michel, the European Council president, has announced that “the European Council has just decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

“Today’s decision is a key step forward on your EU path. Now the hard work needs to continue so Bosnia and Herzegovina steadily advances, as your people want,” he added.

Lisa O’Carroll

The changes in the draft conclusions on Ukraine and security and defence are minor, according to sources.

Wording on use of windfall profits from frozen Russian assets has been changed.

Earlier text said: “The European Council reviewed progress on the next concrete steps towards directing extraordinary revenues stemming from Russia’s immobilised assets for the benefit of Ukraine, including possibly for funding military support”.

Now, the last clause of the paragraph reads: “including the possibility of funding military support”.

Lisa O’Carroll

EU leaders have agreed the text on the conclusions on Ukraine, as well as security and defence, with three changes to the draft wording, according to sources.

The declaration includes the proposal to use the windfall profits from Russian frozen assets on Ukraine.

Discussion has now moved to the Middle East over dinner.

Lisa O’Carroll

Best estimate for decision on the Middle East, to be discussed over dinner, 11am? No chance, says one diplomat. “1.30am and I’m being optimistic”.

There is hope that there could be agreement on the wording around a call for an “immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire” with one source saying Austria and Czechia may “revisit their position” following the US decision to draft a new UN security council resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” and hostage deal in Gaza.

EU leaders are also expected to make a decision on the principle of using the windfall profits from Russian frozen assets for Ukraine later tonight sources say.

Roberta Metsola, the European parliament president, issued a warning ahead of the June European elections.

In a speech to EU leaders, she said “this election will be a test of our systems.”

She added:

My appeal here is to resist the temptation in a difficult campaign to blame Brussels for all that is wrong and give no credit where it is due.

We need to be open and honest about our successes – but also where we could have done better. Where we did not match the expectations of our people. Where people still feel left behind. Where our bureaucracy has pushed people away.

Our industry must be part of the equation. Our farmers have to be a part of the equation. Our young people must be part of the equation. People must have confidence in the process, they must have access to tools that allow them to make the shift and they must be able to afford it. Otherwise, it will not succeed. And if misunderstood, it risks driving more people into political disenfranchisement and allow them to retreat to the comfort of the extremes.

That would simply give fuel to those actors who still see Europe as a threat. Who would like nothing better than for us to become weaker.

The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, broke ranks with his European counterparts and congratulated Vladimir Putin on his “re-election”.

“After the official election results, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán congratulated Vladimir Putin on his re-election, noting that the cooperation between Hungary and Russia, based on mutual respect, enables important discussions even in challenging geopolitical contexts,” a Hungarian spokesperson wrote on social media.

“Orbán affirmed Hungary’s commitment to peace and readiness to intensify cooperation in sectors not restricted by international law, underlining the importance of dialogue in fostering peaceful relations,” he added.

Russia’s election was widely condemned in the west as undemocratic.

The EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, Josep Borrell, had issued a statement on behalf of the bloc stressing that the election “took place in a highly restricted environment” and that the EU “reiterates that it does not and will never recognise either the holding of these so-called ‘elections’ in the territories of Ukraine or their results.”

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has addressed EU leaders via videoconference, calling for more help with air defences and ammunition, as well as progress on Ukraine’s path toward European integration.

“This is Russia’s war not only against Ukraine, but against all of us, against your countries as well, against our entire Europe and the European way of life,” he told the leaders.

He added:

All the air defense provided to Ukraine, in particular by European countries, keeps our cities and villages alive. But the existing air defense systems are not enough to protect our entire territory from Russian terror. And it’s not a matter of hundreds of systems, but of an achievable number – to protect all the territory of Ukraine. You all know what steps need to be taken.

​He also addressed the issue of ammunition.

I am grateful for the creation of the Ukraine Assistance Fund amounting to 5 billion euros and for the support of Czechia’s initiative to purchase shells for our soldiers. This will help. Thank you. Unfortunately, the use of artillery at the frontline by our soldiers is humiliating for Europe in the sense that Europe can provide more. And it is crucial to prove it now.

On the issue of defence production, he said:

​I hope we can all agree that our Europe needs real defence self-sufficiency. This can only be achieved by increasing the production of weapons and ammunition on the continent. Ukraine demonstrates that it can be done quite quickly. Please do not waste the time needed to activate defense production.

And he was blunt on trade policy.

We in Ukraine cannot accept the fact that the background for Russian terror is the pressure on our country in trade issues. I am grateful to all those in Europe who also see this pressure as unacceptable. Now, the issue of trade – in particular the continuation of the trade liberalization regime with the EU, is not just about certain goods but about the ability to withstand Russian aggression.

The Ukrainian leader also criticised the import of Russian agricultural goods.

At the same time we see that, unfortunately, Russian access to the European agricultural market is still unrestricted. And when Ukrainian grain is thrown on the roads or railway tracks, Russian products are still being transported to Europe, as well as goods from Putin’s controlled Belarus. This is not fair.

He called for progress on Ukraine’s EU talks.

​Ukraine is fulfilling its part of the commitments to internal transformation, and we know that the EU has a negotiating framework ready for your consideration. Its approval could greatly support our people and send the right signal to the whole of Europe after the European Parliament elections in June.​

On Russian frozen assets, he said:

We need progress on the fair use of Russia’s frozen assets. The aggressor should pay the highest price for the war – this is in line with both the letter and the spirit of the law.

Lisa O’Carroll

EU leaders have been divided on the Middle East since October but sources say that Hungary, a staunch supporter of Israel, may agree to wording on a ceasefire, likely to be conditional.

One source said in the Orbán camp, said: “I think there is a growing potential of finding an agreement on a European level about the ceasefire.”

There are also signs that Hungary is not opposed to the principle of using interest generated from frozen Russian assets, as long as some of it is ringfenced for peace purposes and not military support for Ukraine.

A formal proposal presented by the European Commission yesterday on the €190bn Russian assets held in the EU suggests that the money made available would go to the European Peace Facility, a non-EU central budget that currently partially reimburses member states for contributions to Ukraine but also funds military peace corps around the world.

A Hungarian source said: “We are against it if it goes for military purposes.” But they added that if there was an opt out allowing part of the funds generated from the frozen assets to go on non-Ukrainian missions funded by the EPF such as peace keeping forces in Africa.

No decision on the frozen Russia assets will be taken today with diplomatic sources saying it could take months for the deal to get through “complex” legal hurdles.

The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has said that “the most important topic on the table is the issue of Ukrainian grain.”

“Ukrainian dumping is slowly destroying European and Hungarian farmers. The Hungarian position is clear: we must protect our farmers!” he said.

The Belgian prime minister, Alexander De Croo, has said the situation in Gaza is “dramatic.”

“Europe needs to lead, and not to follow – and it is time for us to be clear, to demand an immediate cease-fire, to demand the liberation of the hostages, and to put everyone on track on negotiations on a two-state solution.”

He also said that Europe must “continue and certainly accelerate our support” to Ukraine.