BRUSSELS. Dec 15 (Interfax) - The European Council published a statement on Ukraine, which "reaffirms the European Union's unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," at a summit in Brussels early on Friday.
"The European Council [...] confirms the European Union's unwavering commitment to continue to provide strong political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes," the statement says.
The EU summit assured Kiev of its continuing accommodation of "Ukraine's pressing military and defense needs."
"In particular, the European Council insists on the importance of timely, predictable and sustainable military support for Ukraine, notably through the European Peace Facility and the EU Military Assistance Mission, as well as through direct bilateral assistance by member states," the statement said.
The EU leaders noted "the urgent need to accelerate the delivery of missiles and ammunition, notably under the one million rounds of artillery ammunition initiative, and to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems."
The statement recommends that the Council step up the reform of the European Peace Facility and continue to increase its budget, as proposed by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
The European Council pledged long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, so that it could "defend itself, resist destabilization efforts [...] in the future."
The summit pledged "to intensify the provision of further humanitarian and civil protection assistance to Ukraine, as well as assistance to ensure the resilience of its energy sector" and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine in coordination with international partners.
"The European Union and its member states will continue their intensive global outreach efforts and cooperation with Ukraine and partners from all regions of the world to ensure the widest possible international support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace and the key principles and objectives of Ukraine's peace formula, with a view to a future global peace summit," the statement said.
The summit confirmed the intention to tighten sanctions against Russia and to collaborate with partners and allies towards their "effective implementation and the prevention of their circumvention, especially for high-risk goods."
The European Council hailed the approved directive on criminal penalties for violations of EU restrictions. The statement condemned the military cooperation of Iran, Belarus and North Korea with Russia.