Ursula von der Leyen Urges the EU and the US to Double Efforts to Support Ukraine
In its war against Ukraine, Russia is unlikely to achieve victory; instead, it will attempt to freeze the conflict to regroup and launch a new offensive. In light of this, the EU and the US should join forces and intensify their efforts to prevent such a scenario and provide Ukraine with security guarantees to achieve lasting peace.
These were the key points made by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, during a public lecture at Hudson University.
"We can never match the self-sacrifice and courage of the Ukrainian people, but we can stand firmly by their side. This is what we must do for as long as it is necessary. Not only because it would be the right thing to do but also because they are fighting for our values and our strategic security," emphasized the President of the European Commission.
She noted that Europe and the US should support Ukraine in a way that prevents Russia from prolonging this war. According to her, Russia will act similarly to its approach in other conflicts where it couldn't win; it will attempt to freeze this conflict, just as it did in Ukraine in 2014. Following that, the Russian aggressor will wait for the right moment to launch a new offensive.
"Here, in this room, we have often been warned about this. And now, we are living in this reality. Putin is playing the waiting game once again. He aims to divert our attention and allocate resources elsewhere. But there's no room for vacillation or half-measures. It's time to double our efforts, be it in funding or equipment supplies, to continue raising the cost of this war for Russia and deter those who are closely watching us. That's why our sanctions must remain in effect," von der Leyen stated.
In her view, any resolution to this conflict must be a long-term one, ensuring a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine. To achieve this, Ukraine needs long-term security guarantees, with the main idea being to provide Ukraine with sufficient military equipment to deter any future military attacks from Russia.
"I am deeply grateful to the United States for the military aid you provide to Ukraine. You add strength to the courage of the Ukrainian people. I want Europe to play a central role in ensuring Ukraine's long-term security. I am convinced that this effort should be in synergy with the US, our oldest and most powerful ally," emphasised the President of the European Commission.
As reported by The Gaze, the European Commission is preparing to recommend Ukraine for membership negotiations. Possible interim conditions will be discussed by EU leaders as early as December of this year.