Earlier on Friday, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said that Europe is larger than Russia, adding that Europe has “to grow some bigger balls”.
asserted
Europe → say → balls
In response, Mr Martin said that Europe can be overly self-critical about itself.
asserted
Europe → say → itself
“I think the European Union has been very strong in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” he added.
asserted
he → think → Ukraine
“If you think about it, in terms of sanctions, 21 sanctions packages.
asserted
you → think → sanctions
We put another 1,600 on entities and individuals on a list recently.
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We → put → list
“A huge financial package of 90 billion last year agreed, and on numerous fronts, individual member states have been very supportive.
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states → agree → fronts
“We don’t get any sense yet that Russia is serious about peace, so I think Europe has been very strong and will remain strong.
“I think sometimes Europe can be overly self-critical about itself.”
asserted
Europe → get → itself
His comments came as leaders decided who will represent the continent in Ukraine peace talks.
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who → come → talks
At the end of the summit, European Council president Antonio Costa said four member states, the United Kingdom and representatives from the EU institutions should form Europe’s presence in negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the US.
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states → say → Russia
He said European leaders agreed that the bloc’s team for the negotiations on peace in Ukraine is “the European Union institutions and the E5 of the coalition of the willing”.
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team → say → willing
Read More
The E5 countries are France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom.
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countries → read → More
Senior EU diplomat Kaja Kallas told reporters in Dublin she should be involved in representing Europe in foreign and security matters.
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she → tell → matters
During a press conference on Friday evening, Mr Costa said it was “normal” to have a team representing Europe on issues affecting the bloc.
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it → say → bloc
“First of all, we are supporting all peace efforts since the very beginning, and namely the peace efforts led by President (Donald) Trump,” Mr Costa said.
asserted
Costa → support → Trump
“Now, apparently, we have a new momentum to move forward in the peace negotiations and we are fully engaged to support these peace negotiations.
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we → have → negotiations
“For this, of course, we need to work as a team – like all the other parts are acting as a team.”
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parts → need → team
He added: “We have, of course, the coalition of the willing that is essential when it comes to ensure security guarantees to Ukraine after a peace agreement, and of course we need to integrate all of us.
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we → add → us
“For this, it’s essential to have a team and to speak with only one voice and is what we agreed to do, and is how we are working.
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we → ’ → what
This we will continue.
asserted
we → continue → This
“Regarding the EU institutions, the treaty is very clear.
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treaty → regard → institutions
The president of the European Council represents the European Council and represents the union when it comes to the common foreign and security policy at the level of head of state and head of governments, and the president of the European Commission represents the commission.”
asserted
president → represent → commission
Speaking alongside Mr Costa, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the “path to peace” in Ukraine will not be easy.
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path → speak → Ukraine
“The best way to get Russia to the table is to keep up our support for Ukraine and to keep maximum pressure on Russia,” she added.
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she → get → Russia
“This is why we will soon propose our 22nd package of sanctions, and before the next European Council, the commission will come forward with a proposal to close the financing gap in Ukraine for 2027.
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commission → propose → 2027
“Let me be clear: the path to peace will not be easy but we will remain united – as we’ve been over the last five years – in our support for Ukraine and with the end goal clear in our minds.
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goal → let → minds
On Thursday, US special envoy Jared Kushner indicated that Mr Putin was willing to accept European involvement in the process.
asserted
Putin → indicate → process
However, subsequent comments from the Kremlin suggested Moscow has yet to approve European participation.
uncertain
Moscow → suggest → participation
Mr Kushner, who is President Trump’s son-in-law, was speaking after he and fellow US envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a Dublin military airbase – discussions that took place shortly after US President Donald Trump’s representatives held a similar meeting with Mr Putin in Moscow.
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representatives → speak → Moscow
The exchanges followed talks involving the US envoys and delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi earlier in the week – negotiations that did not make substantive progress towards ending the conflict but did see the warring sides agree to a significant prisoner release deal.
asserted
sides → follow → deal
Dublin became a focal point for deliberations around efforts to end the war this week because of the city’s hosting of two major political meetings across two days.
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Dublin → become → days
EU leaders also convened in the Irish capital on Thursday when they were joined by a range of other allies and partners, including UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, for a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC).
asserted
they → convene → Community
Dublin hosted the EPC summit and Friday’s informal meeting of the EU Council as part of Ireland’s six-month presidency of the EU Council.
asserted
Dublin → host → Council
The major back-to-back political gatherings saw the Irish authorities roll out the biggest security operation in the history of the state.
asserted
authorities → see → state
The Aporia
