The EU props up Ukraine in the critical phase of the war

Europe shifted its axis to the East yesterday to close ranks with Ukraine in a historic summit full of symbolism.

, the EU launched a resounding show of force and unity in the face of the Russian threat.

A clear message that warns Vladimir Putin of the solid intention of supporting the ally and candidate for integration in a critical phase of the war, which will be one year old on February 24

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This was stated both by the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen -who attended together with the head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell, and 15 commissioners-, and the head of the Council, Charles Michel, who

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A promise that the day before they wrapped up with the announcement of new sanctions against Moscow that serve to repair the damage caused by the invasion.

In recent months, the West has supported the military alliance with kyiv with facts, propping up the government of Vladimir Zelenski

with weapons that have broken taboos such as sending German Leopard tanks to the Ukrainian front.

Spain, through the Ministry of Defense, will send five for now, within the framework of the essential European commitment to Ukraine.

But the truth is that the war will not be won with weapons alone.

Europe must also lead the economic reconstruction of a country devastated by Russian attacks, which has already destroyed half of the Ukrainian infrastructure, according to the World Bank.

It is not the only figure that speaks for itself of the havoc caused by the war.

in a population that already includes eight million refugees abroad and a third displaced within the country.

of threats such as hyperinflation (price rises close to 26%), a bad memory in Germany because it paved the way for the Second World War.

If military aid is an investment in the security of Europe, economic aid is a guarantee of stability in the Ukrainian partner that allows it to undertake the legal and governance reforms necessary to progress towards European accession.

-in the Ukrnafta oil company and the Defense Ministry itself, for example- to put a stop to the endemic corruption that has plagued the country since before the war.

At the moment the allies are pressuring the IMF to release an aid package of 16,000 million to lay the first stone of a Marshall Plan for Ukraine.

The timing is key, as both armies bleed to death in Bakhmut and before Putin, who already has 300,000 soldiers on the front lines, renews his offensive.

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