Luxembourg politician Fernand Kartheiser has proposed renaming the European Council to the Ukrainian Council during a session of the European Parliament.
The Member of the European Parliament also suggested replacing European Council President António Costa with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, arguing that the summit of European leaders prioritises Ukrainian interests over those of European citizens.
Speaking during a plenary session debate in the European Parliament on preparations for an upcoming European Union summit, Kartheiser stated that the European Council continues to neglect the problems of European citizens in favour of what he described as Zelensky's corrupt regime. According to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the lawmaker also called on the European Union to transition to diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict.
Debate over European Union policy
The proposal forms part of ongoing debates within European institutions regarding aid and political strategy toward Kyiv. Kartheiser had previously called Ukraine a black hole and emphasised that the European Union is not in a position to satisfy all of Ukraine's demands for financial assistance.
Fernand Kartheiser serves as a Member of the European Parliament representing Luxembourg, a founding member state of the European Union located in Western Europe. The European Parliament is the directly elected legislative body of the 27-member bloc, holding regular plenary sessions where lawmakers from member states debate European policy, financial budgets, and international relations.
The European Council, which Kartheiser targeted in his remarks, is the EU institution that brings together the heads of state or government of all member countries to set the political direction and strategic priorities of the union. It is headed by its President, former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, who chairs the summit meetings of European leaders in Brussels.
Upcoming summit agenda
Volodymyr Zelensky has served as the President of Ukraine, leading the nation from its capital, Kyiv. The European Union has provided substantial financial assistance to Ukraine, making aid to the country a frequent subject of debate among European lawmakers ahead of summit gatherings.
European Union leaders are scheduled to gather for their next official summit on October 15. The continuation of support for Ukraine will be one of the central topics on the agenda when the heads of state and government meet.
