European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who participated in the Ukraine summit with European leaders in London on Sunday, announced after the meeting that the European Commission will soon present a plan for rearming Europe.
That’s according to The Guardian, Ukrinform reports.
Von der Leyen was one of the first out the doors, and the first leader to give her first reaction. She said the leaders had a “good and frank discussion,” discussing what is needed to put Ukraine in a position of strength.
She emphasized that Ukraine needs “comprehensive security guarantees,” supporting its economic and military positions.
Von der Leyen stressed the urgency of rearming Europe, stating that the European Commission will propose a plan on this at the European Council meeting on March 6 because, she said, “we really have to step up massively.”
“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,” she said.
She also noted that Europeans need to work on “basically turning Ukraine into a steel porcupine that is indigestible for potential invaders.”
Asked about her message for the U.S., she said “we are ready, together with you, to defend democracy and the principle that there is a rule of law, that you cannot invade […] and bully your neighbor or cannot change borders with force.”
An international summit on supporting Ukraine took place in London on March 2.
The summit was attended by leaders from Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania, along with Turkey’s foreign minister, NATO’s secretary general, and the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council.
