"The war in Ukraine remains the central and most consequential crisis for the future of Europe. Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine is soon entering its fourth year. The illegitimate president of the aggressor state, Vladimir Putin, is trying harder than ever to win this war, with Ukraine's capitulation as his goal. And we know what could happen next, because it has happened before. He will move towards his next objectives, just as he did after the events of 2008 and 2014. This is not just about Ukraine's fate; the stakes are the fate of Europe. Therefore, our top priority is to empower Ukrainian resistance," emphasized von der Leyen.
She reminded that the EU and its member states have provided Ukraine with support amounting to €134 billion since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion, surpassing contributions from any other entity.
"Thanks to the Ukrainian Fund and G7 loans, we have covered Ukraine's budget shortfall for the entirety of 2025. Simultaneously, we must expedite the immediate delivery of weapons and ammunition. This will be at the center of our work in the coming weeks," noted the President of the European Commission.