Von der Leyen: EU Must Step Up Support for Ukraine Amid Halt in U.S. Military Aid
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for a significant increase in the European Union’s military support for Ukraine, following the recent suspension of certain U.S. arms deliveries.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to European Pravda.
Speaking at a press conference in Aarhus to mark the start of Denmark’s EU presidency, von der Leyen emphasized that Washington’s decision sends a clear signal to Europe: it must assume greater responsibility for sustaining Ukraine’s defense.
“For us, this is a clear signal, a clear message about the need to strengthen our own support. It’s about building up European defense capabilities, not only at the level of the European Union but on a continental scale,” von der Leyen stated.
The Commission President recalled that the EU has already provided Ukraine with approximately €50 billion in military assistance.
She praised Denmark’s leadership in this effort, citing its early delivery of both essential artillery systems and the forthcoming transfer of F-16 fighter jets as examples for others to follow.
Von der Leyen also urged EU member states to take advantage of the bloc’s new SAFE (Security and Assistance Facility for Europe) mechanism, which allocates €150 billion for defense-related investments.
“Member states can use these funds either to purchase military equipment and transfer it to Ukraine or to invest in Ukraine’s highly effective defense industry,” she noted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Denmark on Thursday to attend the opening ceremony of the Danish presidency of the EU.
According to Kyiv, he plans to advocate for the expansion of the “Danish model,” a framework whereby European countries finance arms production contracts directly within Ukraine.
As The Gaze reported earlier, during an official visit to Denmark, Zelenskyy also witnessed the signing of a landmark memorandum between Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and U.S.-based drone manufacturer Swift Beat, LLC.