Photo: Ukrinform
At a trilateral meeting with NATO leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assured that the European Union would continue to support Ukraine, as it fights not only for its freedom but also for the values of the entire united Europe, Ukrinform reports.
Ukraine as an outpost of European security
“We have stood by Ukraine from day one, and you can count on us in the future. We see how important it is to invest in Ukraine’s modern defence industry,” said Ursula von der Leyen.
She also stressed that Ukraine is fighting not only for its independence, but also to defend the principles of freedom, democracy and international law – the very foundation of European identity.
SAFE programme: 150 billion euros to support the defence industry
The European Commission recently launched the €150 billion SAFE defence loan programme. These funds are available:
- EU countries,
- to the Alliance’s partners,
- and Ukraine itself – for the development of the defence industry.
The aim of the programme is to strengthen European defence capabilities and help Ukrainian enterprises to scale up production quickly.
Sanctions pressure against Russia
Von der Leyen also stressed the importance of strengthening sanctions against Russia:
“We have to increase the pressure on Putin to come to the negotiating table in earnest. The 18th EU sanctions package is painful, and our G7 partners are also preparing their own measures.”
Among the key topics of the summit:
- Increasing the defence budgets of NATO member states;
- Expanding support for Ukraine;
- Joint investments in weapons and technology;
- Integration of defence supply chains.
The European Union is demonstrating strategic resolve: Ukraine remains a priority. The EU’s financial, technological and political support creates a platform for resilience and victory in the war against Russian aggression.
