European Council: No military solution to Ukraine crisis, says President Barroso - Main contents

President Barroso has insisted that that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Ukraine, and that time is quickly running out to reach a compromise.

"The contrast is too strong between the repeated commitments to political dialogue and the dramatic reality on the ground,” he told journalists after a summit of EU leaders in Brussels.

"There can be no military solution to this crisis. It's time for everyone to get down to the business of peace-making. It is not too late, but time is quickly running out.” he said.

The European Council meeting also heard from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who met with President Barroso separately ahead of the summit. President Barroso said leaders sent a clear message to President Poroshenko "that they stand behind the Ukrainian people and their right to decide their own future".

He explained that there was unity among EU leaders that if Russia continues to escalate the crisis, "it will come with a high cost".

The European Commission has been asked by the European Council to deliver further proposals for restrictive measures, and President Barroso assured EU leaders that the Commission would be “quick” to do so, as it had been before.

However, he insisted that sanctions or restrictive measures are not an end in themselves. "They are instruments to show to the Russian leadership that in the 21st century, the current behaviour is not acceptable, and that we urge them to come to reason, and to work constructively with the European Union and of course also with Ukraine,” he said. "Only with this path to peace can we credibly address the issues of concern.”

Institutional appointments

President Barroso also extended his congratulations to Donald Tusk i and to Federica Mogherini i on their appointments as future European Council President and High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy. "I know they are both deeply committed Europeans and I am sure that, together with Jean-Claude Juncker i, they will make a great team and they will work actively on European priorities,” he said.

Economy

President Barroso also welcomed the fact that EU leaders will discuss employment, especially youth employment, at a conference in October in Italy, and assured his counterparts that the European Commission will ensure a smooth transition between this and the next Commission, presenting its orientations on economic matters this autumn. “Job creation, based on growth, is obviously at the centre of our priorities,” he said.

Read President Barroso's full statement on Ukraine

Read President Barroso's final statement from the European Council

Video from the final press conference

Watch the press conference with Presidents Barroso and Poroshenko