VDL: A failed Ukraine would weaken Europe, but would also weaken the US
A failed Ukraine would weaken Europe, but it would also weaken the United States., European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the Munich Security Conference on February 14.
“It would intensify the challenges in the Indo-Pacific and threaten our shared interests,” Von der Leyen said.
The authoritarians of this world are carefully watching whether there is any impunity if you invade your neighbour and violate international borders, she told the conference.
“Or whether there are real deterrents. They are watching us, what actions we choose to take. This is why it is so important that we get this right.”
Ukraine needs peace through strength, Von der Leyen said.
“Europe wants peace through strength. And as President Trump has made clear: the United States is firmly committed to peace through strength.
“So I believe that by working together, we can deliver that just and lasting peace,” she said.
There is a lot that Europe already has brought to the table: “Historic amounts, actually”.
Financially and militarily the overall support amounts to 134 billion euro, Von der Leyen said, adding that this was more than anybody else has contributed.
This includes $52 billion of military assistance – on par with the US, she said.
“And we have put in place hard hitting sanctions, substantially weakening Russia’s economy.
“We have broken one taboo after another and smashed our reliance on Russian gas, making us more resilient – permanently. And we are about to do more. We are working with Ukraine on their EU accession. Because Ukraine is part of our European family. And this is where their future lies.”
Separately, a statement by the European Commission said that Von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa had held a meeting in Munich with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy.
Von der Leyen and Costa expressed their willingness to step up the work to accelerate the accession process of Ukraine to the European Union, the statement said.
Von der Leyen and Costa committed to a continued and stable support to Ukraine until a just, comprehensive and lasting peace is reached.
They underlined that only such a peace would lead to a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine and guarantee Ukraine’s and Europe’s security.
They expressed the willingness to put Ukraine in a position of strength ahead of any future negotiations and that Ukraine is provided with strong security guarantees.
They stressed the need for Europeans to increase their defence spending and strengthen their defence capabilities and help reinforce the Ukrainian armed forces.
Zelenskyy, speaking on February 14 at a news conference in Munich, said that by deliberately striking the shelter over the 4th power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power station. Russia had once again demonstrated its complete unwillingness to seek peace.
“To me, this is a very clear ‘message’ from Putin and the Russian Federation regarding the security conference,” Zelenskyy said.
“I don’t know what others think, but he certainly does not want peace. At least not under the conditions he is in today. I believe those conditions are quite comfortable for him – comfortable enough to strike the Chernobyl plant.
“A person who is truly under pressure from different sides would not do this. Someone who genuinely seeks dialogue and wants to end the war would not do this, in my opinion,” Zelenskyy said.
(Photo via Von der Leyen’s X account)
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