European Union rejects Ukraine's request for peacekeepers

(Vatican Radio) The European Union has rejected Ukraine's call for an EU peace-keeping mission to the east of the country amid renewed fighting there between government forces and pro-Russian separatists. EU leaders made the announcement during the first EU summit in Kiev since a key EU-Ukraine association agreement was signed last June.

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Talks were to continue in Kiev on Tuesday, after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said his nation would be able to apply for EU membership within five years. EU leaders made clear they wanted to support reforms and share his concerns about increased ceasefire violations in the east of the country. Yet, speaking in Kiev, European Council President Donald Tusk said the EU could only send a civilian "assessment" mission to explore ways to assist Ukraine, but that it would be "impossible" to send a "military mission.”

UKRAINIAN EXPECTATIONS

"Of course we know the Ukrainian expectation. But today it's impossible to send such a military mission and we haven't discussed in Europe such a project," he told reporters. He spoke amid new fighting in a conflict that has already killed more than 6,100 people. Several Ukrainian troops were killed and injured in recent days in eastern Ukraine, where clashes have picked up between government forces and pro-Russian separatists. The separatists have also been bombarding a village near the key city of Mariupol, including Shyrokyne which was pounded by tank and mortar rounds. Observers of Europe's security organization OSCE said they have experienced the most intense shelling of Shyrokyne since fighting began there in mid-February and that heavy weapons including tanks were seen there. Despite the turmoil, Ukraine's President said he believes his nation will be able to join the European Union.

 

EU PERSPECTIVES

Speaking about Ukraine's EU perspectives, he made clear that Ukraine was in his words "ambitious" in its "plans and belief" and that Ukraine "can declare that within five years that it will provide effective implementation of the [EU] association agreement and meet the conditions required to apply for membership in the European Union." He added that his nation has "won the right" to join the EU during what he called the "Revolution of Dignity" — a reference to last year's ouster of his pro-Moscow predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych. Yanukovych's decision not to sign a political and free trade association agreement with the European Union helped spark mass demonstrations against him. Ukraine signed the EU association agreement last year after his ouster. Yet since he was toppled, Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and Poroshenko acknowledged that his nation is currently fighting a "war" against "the Russian aggression." Amid that instability however, questions remain when and if his nation can become an EU member.