Pro-Ukraine pledges prove too controversial for EU-Gulf summit, leak shows – POLITICO

The possible solution? A joint proposal to abolish the paragraph completely.

In another section, the Gulf states proposed deleting a passage that promised to improve joint work to evade sanctions – a clear reference to the wartime punishments of Western allies that targeted Moscow’s finances and to their difficulties in enforcing them. The United Arab Emirates, one of the Gulf states involved in Wednesday’s summit, has reportedly particularly irritated Western allies over its evasion of sanctions.

The language dispute reflects ongoing difficulties for the EU and its Western allies in winning over others to their coalition to support Ukraine and contain Russia.

But while the most contentious issues appear to be off the table for Wednesday, both sides appear to have found common ground on several fronts.

According to the document, they will condemn missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – an acute problem given the approaching winter – although Russia is not specifically mentioned in the text.

Both sides will also reaffirm a growing energy partnership, with particular mention of renewable energy, hydrogen, the annual COP climate summits and the Paris Agreement, the 2015 pact to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.