HOW THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS SUPPORTED UKRAINE

 Even before Ukraine came under attack from Russia, in February 2022, the EU was keen to support Kyiv and forge closer links.

Background:

Since withdrawing from the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine has been keen to pursue its own path including forging closer links with the rest of Europe.

Russia:

Ukraine's relations with Russia have been tense due to the political determination to keep the country in its sphere of influence.  In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea in violation of international law and was strongly condemned by the EU.  It has also been waging a high-tech war against Ukraine including economic pressure and disinformation attacks. 

In a resolution adopted in December 2021 MEPs called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, and said the aggression by Moscow just came at a high and political price. Parliament. has already exposed its grave concern about the large Russian military buildup at the borders with Ukraine, the illegally occupied Crimea in a resolution adopted in April 2021. 

Members of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee and Security went on a fact-finding mission to Ukraine from the 30th of January to the 1st of February 2022. 

MEP called for a united response and voiced support for Ukraine in a debate on EU-Russian relations, European security and Russian military threat against Ukraine on the 11th February 2022.

On the 22nd of February, leading MEPs strongly condemned Russian President, Vladimir Putin's recognition of the non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk and Oblast of Ukraine as independent entities.  Two days later, on the 24th of February Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine.   

The European Union responded with a series of sanctions against Russi as an initiative to support Ukraine. 

The European Parliament and the EU have supported Ukraine since the start of tne Russian  invasion on Ukraine,