Day 203 Roundup: EU Chief Says Solidarity with Ukraine 'Unshakeable' as Energy Crisis Plan Unveiled

Facts

• In an annual policy speech on Wednesday, European Commission Pres. Ursula von der Leyen laid out plans to impose caps on electricity use and the profits of energy providers, while stressing that the EU's solidarity with Ukraine remains 'unshakeable.'¹
• 'This is the time for us to show resolve, not appeasement,' von der Leyen said. She also added that the EU isn't complete without Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Western Balkan countries. 'You are part of our family, you are the future of our union. Our union is not complete without you,' she said.²
• Meanwhile, Ukraine on Tuesday unveiled a draft of the Kyiv Security Compact – a proposal which would see the US and a number of European countries act as security guarantors to Ukraine, and compel them to take military action if Ukraine is attacked.³
• On the ground, as Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to troops in Izyum and Ukraine consolidated its gains in Kharkiv Oblast – reportedly recapturing the whole region – the Kremlin's presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said full military mobilization wasn't on the agenda at the moment, despite growing calls within Russia in support of the move.⁴
• It comes as Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), claimed pro-Russia forces were now advancing and gaining ground towards Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Peski and Maryinka in the Donetsk region. 'There, the guys are advancing and they are moving forward well,' he said.⁵
• Over the past day, Russian shelling in Donetsk has killed five civilians and injured 16 others, while its shelling of liberated territories in Kharkiv has injured three people, Ukrainian officials said. Two people were also reported killed and three were injured in Russian shelling of Mykolaiv. DPR officials reported that four civilians had been killed and four more injured in Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk.⁶

Sources: ¹MSN, ²Uk.Yahoo, ³Ukrayinska Pravda, ⁴TASS (a), ⁵TASS (b) and ⁶UKRINFORM.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Ukrayinska Pravda. Adoption of the Kyiv Security Compact will send a powerful signal to Putin – namely that his war is futile and that Western nations will not waiver in their support of Ukraine.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. Agreement on the Kyiv Security Compact would be tantamount to applying NATO's Article 5 principle of collective defense. Such a provocative document would lay the groundwork for the start of World War III.