BRUSSELS, June 30. /TASS/. The European Union will keep providing Kiev with financial and military assistance for as long as it takes, the European Council said in a joint statement released early on Friday after the first day of the EU summit.

"The European Union will continue to provide strong financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes," the statement says.

The document also "reconfirms the EU’s readiness to provide sustainable military support to Ukraine for as long as it takes, notably through the EU Military Assistance Mission and the European Peace Facility."

"It [the European Council] took stock of the progress in the delivery and joint procurement of one million rounds of artillery ammunition and missiles for Ukraine. It underlines the importance of Member States’ continued efforts to help meet Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs, without prejudice to the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States, and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States," the EU governing body said.

EU leaders also assured that the organization and its member states "will intensify their diplomatic outreach efforts and continue to cooperate with Ukraine and other countries to ensure the widest possible international support for the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, including through an upcoming Global Peace Summit."

"Any initiative for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine must be based on full respect for its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders," the statement says.