Ursula von der Leyen: Support for Ukraine comes at a high cost, but freedom is priceless

THE support in Ukraine it comes at a high cost, but freedom is “priceless”, said the president of the European Commission on Thursday night (15/9). Ursula von der Leyento Reuters amid rising inflation and high energy prices in Europe.

Speaking in Kyiv, von der Leyen reiterated that the European Union will be unwavering in its support to Ukraineas rifts begin to appear among member states over how to further punish Russia for invading its neighbor.

The EU sanctions in Russia are finally having a deep and visible impact, von der Leyen said in an interview with Reuters, hours after her meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“It took some time for their impact to be seen, and it is visible now,” said the Commission president.

Asked about the potential impact of the ongoing energy crisis facing Europe on support for Kyiv, von der Leyen said that support for Ukraine “has a high cost, but our freedom, the international peace order, and democracy , is of inestimable value.”

The E.U. co-financed military aid for the first time in its history to support Ukraine this year through the European Peace Mechanism.

Von der Leyen said further support from the program could come in the future and said Ukraine’s recent blitzkrieg in its northeast and south had “raised the mood not only in Ukraine but everywhere in Europe”.

The September offensive resulted in what Kyiv says was the recapture of about 9,000 square kilometers of territory from Moscow, the vast majority of it in the northeastern region of Kharkiv.

Asked whether the EU would provide additional aid to bolster the counteroffensive, von der Leyen gave no indication that support would be reduced.

“More than ever, it is essential that Ukraine gets all the military capability it needs to defend itself,” he said, without elaborating.