ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The European Council on Friday condemned the “continued military support” of Iran and Belarus for Russia in Ukraine and called on both countries to end their assistance to Moscow.
The leaders of 27 European states on Friday concluded a two-day summit in Brussels where the war in Ukraine and migration were among the issues discussed.
“The European Council condemns the continued military support for Russia’s war of aggression provided by Iran and Belarus. Belarus must stop allowing Russian armed forces to use its territory, including for the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons. Iran must stop providing drones to Russia,” the council said in a statement.
Belarus and Iran have also been accused of supporting Russia in its fight against Ukraine for months, something that most European countries are seriously worried about.
Ukraine has said that it downed numerous Iranian-made drones launched by Russia.
Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 drones have been repeatedly used by Russia in its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, leading to a barrage of international sanctions and condemnations on Iran. Tehran said the drones it sent to Russia preceded the war in Ukraine, which broke out in February last year. The United States, however, believes military ties are deepening between Moscow and Tehran with plans to manufacture Iranian drones in Russia.
