Leaders of Britain and Canada were excluded in the European Council meeting scheduled in Brussels in an unprecedented impasse. It would have been fine, but President Joe Biden of the United States got an invitation to the Brussels event. Some are not keen on the snub when all world leaders should be on deck, not sidelined.
UK Forgotten by the EU council
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was not invited to the Brussels meeting this week, and some say the presence of Joe Biden was not a good move, reported the Express UK.
In the last meeting of the EU, he went off-page several times, even seen napping and getting nudged by an aide in the COP 26 summit, states Metro UK.
Last Monday, the Prime Minister talked with EU Council President Charles Michel to assess the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, the bloc's chief declined Johnson to cordially invite a major EU summit this week.
The UK leader also discussed with the US, France, Germany, and Italy, looking for a consensus on dealing with the ongoing conflict.
Downing Street released a statement about how the EU will deal with the Ukraine incursions. According to TASS, all the signatories agreed to commit to what needed to be done to support Ukraine in this time of crisis.
But other bloc members have reserved their support in the matter. What was agreed was to heap more sanctions on Moscow. Britain and Canada have to be roped in, not sidelined from the European Council meeting.
President Biden will meet with EU council leaders in Brussels about more penalties on Russia but not direct military support. Not all-EU members are all in like Germany, and others are still dependent on Gazprom supplies.
The US president will be part of the discussions of the council. Another western leader, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is visiting Brussels this week and, like Boris, got sidelines allegedly unceremoniously. He will not be part of the summit. Instead, an address by him to European Parliament on Wednesday with his plan in the bloc.
UK, Ukraine Compared
One report says that Johnsons spoke last weekend that the Ukrainians choose freedom and compare Brexit as one example. But Downing Street did not acknowledge that the British PM wanted to have a comparison of how Kyiv and London chose to leave the European Union.
According to a representative who made it clear, the speech had no relation to Ukraine. Chancellor Rishi Sunak stated they had not related; it is only a perception, and it references fighting for freedom. He added the ambassador from Kyiv was there at that time and liked the speech, even giving a standing ovation.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid went on to say how everyone, regardless of background or whatever circumstances, has a strong capacity for self-determination.
Javid made it clear that no attempt to connect to Ukraine, stating that all that is needed to see is the support given to Ukraine is enough to see the point and implied it was just a misunderstanding of what the UK prime minister said.
Leaders from Britain and Canada not getting invited to the European Council meeting should have been done by the EU Chief when everyone is needed.