European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of “a conflict between the rule of law and the rule of arms, between democracies and dictatorships, between a rule-based order and a world of shameless aggression”, stressing that “war has returned in Europe”.
Speaking at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Brussels, he noted that “men, women and children are dying because a foreign leader has decided that their country, Ukraine, has no right to exist.”
Ursula von der Leyen stressed that “a Union of almost half a billion people has mobilized for Ukraine. The people of Europe are protesting in front of Russian embassies throughout our Union.
“Many of them have opened their homes to Ukrainians fleeing Putin’s bombs.” He also thanked Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary for hosting the refugees.
“Europe will be there for them, not only in these first days, but also in the coming weeks and months. That is why we are proposing to activate the temporary protection mechanism to provide them with a safe situation and access to schools, medical care and work. “pointed out the President of the Commission. He also referred to the speed with which the EU adopted sanctions “against Russia’s financial system, its high-tech industries and its corrupt elite.”
“This is the largest package of sanctions in the history of our Union,” he said.
Ursula von der Leyen stressed that these sanctions will have an impact on the Russian economy and the Kremlin and stood by the restrictive measures related to the SWIFT interbank system and the central bank of Russia.
“Secondly, we are targeting important sectors of the Russian economy.
• We make it impossible for Russia to upgrade its oil refineries,
• repair and modernize its air fleet,
“And to have access to many important technologies,” he said, referring to the closure of EU airspace for Russian aircraft and the blockade of Russian media Russia Today and Sputnik and their subsidiaries.
“These are unprecedented actions by the European Union and our partners in response to an unprecedented aggression by Russia.
Each of these steps has been done in close coordination with our partners and allies, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Norway, but also e.g. “Japan, South Korea and Australia,” said Ursula von der Leyen.
“If Putin sought to divide the EU, weaken NATO, and break the international community, he has done just the opposite,” he said.
The President of the Commission also referred to the cost of sanctions in the European economy.
“I believe that the people of Europe understand very well that we must resist this brutal aggression. Yes, protecting our freedom comes at a price.
But this is a defining moment. And that’s a cost we are willing to pay. “Because freedom is invaluable,” he said.
As for energy, he stressed that “we can not rely so much on a supplier that explicitly threatens us. That is why we turned to other global suppliers.”
“In the long run, it is our shift to renewable energy and hydrogen that will make us truly independent,” he said.
“European security and defense have evolved more in the last six days than in the last two decades. Most Member States have promised deliveries of military equipment to Ukraine,” he said. “to buy and deliver weapons to an attacking country. € 500 million from the European Peace Fund to support Ukraine’s defense.”
The President of the Commission stated that “this crisis is changing Europe.
But Russia has also reached a crossroads. “The Kremlin’s actions are seriously damaging the long-term interests of Russia and its people.”
“There is another Russia besides Putin’s tanks. We extend our hand of friendship to this other Russia,” he said.
He stressed that “President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people are a real inspiration.”
“When we last spoke, he told me again about the dream of his people to join our Union. Today, the EU and Ukraine are closer than ever.
There is still a long way to go. We must end this war.
And we need to talk about the next steps. But I’m sure. “No one can doubt that a people who stand so bravely for our European values ​​belongs to our European family,” said Ursula von der Leyen.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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