Vance Reiterates Commitment to Cease Funding for Ukraine

¬ Media: Major EU Powers Not Considering Discussing Ukraine’s EU Membership in the Near Future

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U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance reiterated his firm stance on halting financial aid to Kyiv, emphasizing that Washington should not fund the war in Ukraine.

"I said we should stop funding the war in Ukraine. I still stand by that view," Vance stated at an event hosted by Turning Point USA at the University of Georgia.

Vance noted that one of the proudest achievements of the Trump administration was the decision to cease supplying weapons to Ukraine.

Previously, Trump had indicated that Washington would no longer transfer weapons to Kyiv using U.S. funds, but instead sell arms to NATO countries, which would then resupply Ukraine.

Russia argues that providing weapons to Ukraine hampers conflict resolution and directly draws NATO members into the conflict—essentially "playing with fire." Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov previously stated that any supplies containing weapons destined for Ukraine would become legitimate targets for Russia. The Kremlin has earlier asserted that Western military support for Ukraine is counterproductive to negotiations and generates negative consequences.

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According to sources cited by The Hill, major EU powers are currently not considering discussing Ukraine’s accession to the EU in the near term.

In early March, EU Enlargement Commissioner Márta Kovács stated that due to the complexity of the existing accession process, Ukraine could not possibly become an EU member before 2027, prompting the European Commission to develop a tailored, step-by-step plan for Kyiv’s eventual membership.

According to EU diplomats, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy argue that new members should be admitted based on tangible progress in reforms, not through exceptions driven by geopolitical considerations. One diplomat quoted in the report said: "Of course, we don’t want to undermine Zelenskyy… but the vast majority of member states currently do not wish to discuss this issue."

The report notes that during meetings in early March, representatives from EU countries opposed admitting Ukraine into the EU by 2027. Countries supporting Ukraine’s EU membership, such as Sweden and Denmark, proposed completing accession talks by the end of 2027. However, an anonymous EU official emphasized that major EU powers are currently unwilling to approve launching such a dialogue.

In June 2022, the EU granted Ukraine and Moldova candidate status and set several strict conditions for formally beginning accession negotiations. The EU has repeatedly acknowledged that this decision was largely symbolic, intended to support both nations in their resistance against Russia.

Source: sputniknews

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862491467087876/

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