EU Ready to Strengthen Defence of Ukraine and Europe, Says European Commission President to Trump's Envoy

On 18 February, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in Brussels with US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg, the European Commission website reports.  

Von der Leyen stressed the EU's important role in ensuring Ukraine's financial stability and defence capability. She noted that the EU's total commitment is €135 billion, which is more than any other ally, and that the $52 billion in military aid is on par with the US.  

The President of the European Commission also spoke about Europe's plans to increase defence production and spending, which will help strengthen the military capabilities of both the EU and Ukraine. She assured that the European Union is fulfilling its commitments in the area of military assistance and is ready to increase its support.  

Von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU's commitment to a just and lasting peace, stressing that any solution must respect Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and be based on credible security guarantees.  

‘She also expressed the EU's readiness to work together with the United States to end the bloodshed and help secure the just and lasting peace that Ukraine and its people rightfully deserve. As the President made clear, this is a critical moment,’ the statement said.  

Earlier, Keith Kellogg said that the United States does not consider Europe as a participant in negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.  

Following this statement, French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency summit of European leaders in Paris on 17 February.  

Meanwhile, the head of the German defence concern *Rheinmetall* Armin Papperger noted that European countries were ‘at the children's table’ in negotiations on the future of Ukraine due to decades of underfunding of the defence sector.