As North Korean troops join Russian forces in the ongoing conflict, their involvement in the war is escalating following recent ammunition shipments from the East Asian regime to Moscow. This situation was at the centre of a debate among MEPs in Strasbourg. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) have reiterated their strong commitment to supporting Ukraine.
During the debate, Latvian MEP Rihards Kols spoke on behalf of the ECR Group, comparing any hesitance to support Ukraine to Neville Chamberlain’s failed appeasement policy in the 1930s. “The ghost of Chamberlain haunts Europe today, convincing some that concessions to aggressors will bring peace,” Kols stated.
Kols urged his colleagues to learn from past mistakes and to form a coalition of the willing, standing united with Ukraine against the Russian aggressor.
“A coalition of the willing must rise above complacency, delivering every weapon Ukraine needs, every sanction against its enemies, and every frozen Russian asset has to be repurposed to rebuild what Russia has destroyed”, he stressed.
One way to show that the EU is serious, Kols argued, is to start the EU accession process: “This House must ensure that the accession process with Ukraine begins not as soon as possible, but immediately.”
“History will not forgive appeasement or forget those who stand firm. Let us prove that we are up to the challenge”, the Latvian MEP concluded.
