Dhe European Union condemned the hacker attack on Ukraine on Friday and convened a special session of its Political and Security Committee. It was about how Ukraine could be given technical help in order to increase its resilience, said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brest. A rapid unit has also been mobilized to counter cyber attacks. The Spaniard said one could guess who was behind it but had no proof. NATO also promised Kiev support. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that an agreement on increased cooperation in the cyber area would be concluded “in the next few days”.
At an informal meeting in Brest on Friday, EU foreign ministers discussed the situation on Ukraine’s borders and how to deal with Russia; there had already been a joint meeting with the EU defense ministers on Thursday. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) said it would take a lot of perseverance and patience because “there have been no real talks” with Moscow for “years.” “We are doing everything we can to ensure that there is no further escalation.” You have to use the different channels, which is why she will meet her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday.
On Monday, Baerbock will travel to Kiev with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and will also visit the line of contact with the separatists in eastern Ukraine. Le Drian reiterated in Brest that any military aggression against Ukraine would have “serious consequences”. Addressing the Russian government, he said: “We will not accept any ultimatums.” Borrell praised the close coordination with NATO and the United States this week after complaining several times last week that the EU was not in Talks with Moscow had been included. There have been more than a hundred contacts at all levels between Brussels and Washington, the cooperation is “better than ever before”.
The ministers also dealt with the situation in Mali, where the Russian mercenary group Wagner is now known to be operating. In this case, Paris and Berlin had threatened to cancel the EU training mission there. Le Drian said on Friday: “We will stay in Mali, but not at any price.” The situation there will be discussed shortly with all sixty partners who are involved in Mali.
.
#Defense #unit #activated #NATO #offer #Ukraine #cyber #attack