European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday said, “Putin’s war has also fundamentally altered Europe’s security environment. To defend Europe, we will need different forces and different capabilities.”
Stressing the need for “significant additional defence investments in Europe,” she welcomed that “some leaders have announced ambitious steps to increase defence spending. I want to be very clear that we need to closely coordinate also with NATO. NATO is the strongest military alliance in the world.”
At the joint press conference with President Michel and President Macron following the informal meeting of Heads of State or Government, President von der Leyen noted that “the membership application of Ukraine is an expression of national sovereignty, of its will and its right to choose its own destiny. ”
She continued: “Today, we have opened the pathway towards us for Ukraine. They are part of the European family.”
“This crisis has indeed made us face up to our responsibilities in the face of a new reality.
First, our duty to continue ensuring reliable, secure and affordable supply of energy to European consumers. In the mid term, this means getting rid of our dependency on Russian gas, by diversification of supply, by massively investing in renewables.
The second principle I mentioned was unity. It certainly guided us when we swiftly imposed, all together, three successive waves of sanctions on the Kremlin. With an immediate, hard-hitting effect. We will now come forward now with a fourth package of sanctions. These sanctions will further isolate Russia from the global economic system, increasing further the cost of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finally, a word on solidarity, which so many Europeans are showing shining examples of, in these days, by welcoming with open arms more than 2 million people who have now fled the war in Ukraine. I want to thank all EU Member States and in particular the countries on the frontline – that is Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and, of course, our partner, Moldova. Because the people of Ukraine need and deserve all our support – and so do the countries that welcome them,” she underscored.
“Putin’s war has fundamentally altered Europe’s security environment.
To defend Europe, we will need different forces and different capabilities. Significant additional defence investments in Europe will be needed”.
President @vonderleyen at the @EUCouncil in Versailles.
— European Commission ?? (@EU_Commission) March 11, 2022
