EU leaders urge caution on Syria developments, stress unity on Ukraine

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - European leaders in Brussels on Thursday urged caution over Syria’s new administration, emphasizing the need to avoid conflict and to protect minorities and maintain stability, while also stressing unity in addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“It is a relief that the regime of Assad is finally down,” Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament said on the sidelines of the EU-Balkans summit in Brussels, expressing caution over its new leadership.

The statements come amid historical changes in Syria as a coalition of militia groups, led by the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ousted Bashar al-Assad on December 8.

Metsola, however, urged caution regarding the future of Syria, saying, “We need to look with caution as to who will take over… also with regards to the potential of Syrian nationals going back and also not forgetting that there are minorities that need to be protected in Syria.”

The collapse of the regime marked a new start in Syria’s history. The HTS-led groups established a transitional government led by caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir who has promised a future Syrian state that guarantees the rights of all its citizens.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the HTS must avoid the Taliban approach in Afghanistan by presenting a moderate face only for its “true colors” to come out after strengthening its grip on the country and called on the group to respect Syria’s diverse communities and refrain from adopting hardline policies to avoid global isolation. 

Speaking to Rudaw, European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas highlighted concerns over Syria, saying, “Nobody should pull the cover to their side and use this situation,” while noting the importance of maintaining stability. 

Ukraine

Kaja Kallas also warned against hasty moves in international negotiations regarding Ukraine. “Any push for negotiations too soon will actually be a bad deal for Ukraine,” she said, as discussions continue on how to best support the war-torn country.

The Russia-Ukraine war, beginning with Russia's invasion in February 2022, has seen significant developments recently. Russia continues to make territorial gains despite heavy casualties, while Ukraine's infrastructure and military resources are severely strained. European leaders have reiterated their support for Ukraine, emphasizing that no decisions about Ukraine's future should be made without its involvement. 

“From the very beginning of next year, we need very much unity between the United States and EU and countries of Europe. It is very important. We need this unity to achieve peace. I think only together can the United States and Europe can really stop Putin and save Ukraine,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Meanwhile, US President-elect Donald Trump has expressed a desire to end the conflict quickly hinting at a potential shift in US foreign policy. This has raised concerns among European allies regarding the implications for Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape, prompting increased efforts to expand budgets for defense.

He emphasized the need to protect Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, warning of the broader implications of potential mishaps.

“It is very dangerous not only for Ukraine [but] for all Europe if something goes not well,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian leader also stressed the need for Ukraine to ramp up its military production.

“For me, it’s very important to double, to increase as much as possible our… military production which really helps and really works. We see results on the battlefield,” he said.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda called for increased defense spending, saying his country is preparing to boost its military budget to as much as 5 percent of GDP in the coming years.

“We have to increase our defense spending. My country is doing a lot and we will increase our spending,” Nauseda said.

“First of all, we have to help ourselves, and then we can count on our partners, and we count on our partners very much,” he added.

Trump has emphasized that Europe and its NATO allies should bear more of the burden in supporting Ukraine and ensuring its security against external threats. Trump has suggested that European nations need to step up their contributions, both in terms of military aid and financial support, to reduce their reliance on the United States.