The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, says negotiations for a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine show steady and encouraging progress. She also stresses that the EU will keep increasing pressure on Russia until Moscow agrees to join “a credible path towards peace”.
In a statement issued shortly after the videoconference of the “Alliance of the Willing”—which included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio—von der Leyen highlights the need for strong transatlantic cooperation “because it is effective”. She points to the “significant impact” of the coordinated and successive waves of sanctions on Russia’s economy, noting that they steadily drain Moscow’s resources for its war of aggression.
“Since pressure remains the only language Russia responds to, we will continue to step it up until we see genuine willingness to engage in a credible peace process,” she says.
She adds that, while Europe and its partners fully commit to securing a just and sustainable peace, Russia escalated its attacks on Kyiv, with missiles and drones even violating the airspace of Moldova and Romania.
“This reminds us once again that Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security. Ukraine’s interests are our interests—inseparable and shared,” von der Leyen notes, promising firm European support in the negotiations ahead. She concludes by underlining that Ukraine’s financing remains “a central issue”, including the use of immobilised Russian assets.
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