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Three weeks following the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we welcome Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, who is in charge of preparing and implementing the EU’s response to the war that Russian President Vladimir Putin leads once morest kyiv.
For the President of the European Commission, Vladimir Putin had not foreseen “the unity of the European Union and its American, Canadian and British friends” in this support for Ukraine, nor “the speed and importance Sanctions”. And in this conflict, “it is democracy that stands once morest autocracy and we are united”.
The EU has activated four unprecedented sanctions packages once morest Moscow which have “devastated the Russian economy”: “Putin is trying to destroy Ukraine but he is destroying the future of his country and his people”, believes the head of the European executive. “Our response to Putin’s cruel war has caused its stock market to plummet” and “this will have a lasting impact on the country’s economy…almost in default”. Ursula von der Leyen admits, however: “These sanctions also have a cost for the European economy, but I am convinced that European citizens understand that we must oppose this cruel invasion, because it is our freedom that is at stake. And our freedom is priceless.”
“Everyone can contribute by saving energy”
The 27 are “far too dependent on Russian fossil fuels, and we must get rid of this dependence”, declares the former German Minister of Defense, turning to “our American friends to see if it is not possible to have more liquefied natural gas”, “even if European stocks are still sufficient to hold out next winter”, she assures. We must invest in renewable energies, because “they are local, they create jobs, they are good for the planet and for energy security”. She also appeals to Europeans because “everyone can contribute by saving energy. The less energy we use, the better we get rid of this dependence on Russia.”
Ursula von der Leyen recalls that “for the first time in our history, we are financing the purchase and delivery of arms to a country under attack with European funds” and “we are doing everything we can to help it in the negotiations which have begun”. “The EU is providing 1.2 billion euros in emergency assistance to Ukraine, of which 500 million are allocated for humanitarian aid, and this is only the beginning. And above all, we are receiving Ukrainian refugees with open arms.”
On the subject of the trip of three Prime Ministers of the Visegrad group to Ukraine, she describes it as a “courageous gesture”. But “that does not mean that we will not deal with other human rights issues between us”.
“You have to be creative”
Should Vladimir Putin be prosecuted in international justice? “It is absolutely necessary that there be an investigation into war crimes and that those responsible are held to account” because “this is the international order that we must maintain”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for his country’s membership of the EU, initially supported by Ursula von der Leyen but not by the Member States meeting in Versailles: “The 27 unanimously said that Ukraine was part of of our European family. The fact that President Zelensky applied started the process.” For the President of the European Commission, “the situation is quite extraordinary, we need tailor-made solutions and show creativity”. Ursula von der Leyen assures that her objective “is to go faster, to issue this opinion on membership in the space of a few months and to do everything we can to support Ukraine in this process which has start”.
Program prepared by Isabelle Romero, Sophie Samaille, Georgina Robertson and Perrine Desplats.
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