JAKARTA - European Union leaders gathered on Thursday to agree on a common response to the war in Ukraine, with differing views on how far economic sanctions will go, how quickly to cut Russia's energy imports, and whether to let Kyiv join their bloc quickly. or not.
Russia has been waging war on its smaller neighbor since February 24, when it struck from land, sea and air to remove Ukraine's pro-Western government, in a bid to quash the former Soviet Republic's bid to join the European Union and NATO.
The fighting has led to more than 2 million refugees fleeing to European Union countries, which have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia, offered political and humanitarian support to Ukraine, as well as some arms supplies.
"We want a free and democratic Ukraine with whom we share the same destiny," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a show of sympathy and moral support.
But other leaders have made clear that Ukraine will not be allowed to join them immediately, something Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been trying to do and which has the support of Ukraine's eastern neighbours.
"There is no fast-track procedure," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, a major opponent of EU expansion.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the EU should deepen its partnership with Ukraine rather than talk about membership, which would require unanimity from 27 member states.
Chancellor Scholz did not comment on whether the bloc should ban imports of Russian oil, which would also require the approval of all members and has so far been sidelined by Berlin.
It is known that Russia supplies about a third of Germany's gas and crude oil needs. However, tougher sanctions were backed by Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins.
"We have to stop this. Ukraine is fighting against us, they are fighting against the military. We have to supply them by all means possible," he told reporters.
"With sanctions, we have to go faster and further," he said.
Meeting at the luxurious Palace of Versailles outside Paris, EU leaders are treading a fine line between wanting to support Ukraine and avoiding the risk of being sucked into war with nuclear-armed Russia.
"Can we open membership procedures with countries that are at war? I don't think so. Can we close the door and say: 'no'? That's not fair. Let's be careful," said French President Emmanuel Macron.
Just before the summit, President Macron and Chancellor Scholz demanded an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine during a joint phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian invasion, which Moscow calls a special military operation, has shattered the European security fabric that emerged from the ashes of the Second World War and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Meanwhile, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo described the moment as the events of September 11 belonging to the European Union, referring to Al-Qaeda's 2001 attacks on the United States, which sparked a years-long international war on terror.
Looking inward to prepare for what they fear could be years of worsening strife with Russia, the leaders are also seeking to agree on how quickly they can reduce Russia's energy imports, how they can increase their defense capabilities and how they can stem food price inflation. .
"The war in Ukraine is a very big trauma. But it is also something that will definitely lead us to completely redefine the structure of Europe," said President Macron.
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