Peace is possible only through strength and security guarantees – Von der Leyen

Peace for Ukraine can only be achieved through force and reliable security guarantees.

This was stated by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference in Brussels.

She stressed that the European Union adheres to three key principles in supporting Ukraine:

1. Safe guarantees. Ukraine must receive reliable protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity without restrictions on the development of the Armed Forces. “Ukraine must become a steel porcupine that no attacker can digest,” she said. The EU welcomes US President Donald Trump’s willingness to join the creation of a system of security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5.

2. Inviolability of borders. Von der Leyen stressed that international borders cannot be changed by force, and that the decision on peace will be made exclusively by Ukraine.

3. Pressure on Russia. The EU will continue sanctions and economic pressure. Eighteen sanctions packages have already been adopted, and 19 are planned to be approved in early September. “We have already ensured that frozen Russian assets work for the benefit of Ukraine. And we will continue to put pressure on Russia’s military economy to force Putin to sit down at the negotiating table,” the President of the European Commission emphasized.

Von der Leyen also confirmed that Ukraine’s accession to the EU is seen as one of the elements of security, and Europe is ready to develop its defense capabilities together with Kiev, in particular in the area of drone production.