Europe must urgently rearm and prepare for the worst, says Ursula von der Leyen
Photo: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (Getty Images)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stated that Europe must urgently rearm. She will propose a plan for this next week, informs The Guardian.
Following a summit in London, von der Leyen said that European leaders had a productive and candid discussion about what is needed to put Ukraine in a position of strength. According to her, Ukraine requires comprehensive security guarantees to support its economic and military standing.
She emphasized that Europe must be rearmed without delay. The European Commission will present this plan at the March 6 summit.
"It is now of utmost importance to step up the defense investment for a prolonged period of time. It’s for the security of the European Union, and we need … in the geostrategic environment in which we live, to prepare for the worst, and therefore stepping up the defenses," von der Leyen stressed.
As a reminder, a summit of European leaders took place in London today, with Ukraine as the central topic. According to the agenda, discussions focused on strengthening Ukraine’s position — both militarily and through economic pressure on Russia — the need for a long-term agreement to secure peace in Ukraine and the next steps in developing security guarantees.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that there has been no peace deal for Ukraine yet. He stressed the need to clarify Europe's security guarantees. He also noted that allies want to ensure that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin does not attempt to attack Ukraine again.
