By KYIV. Jan 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) – President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has described Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as a “wake-up call for Europe” that is making the EU rethink its defense policy.
“We have to rethink our own defense and defense industrial base, and we must ramp up our defense industrial base. This will not only give us more access to the necessary military systems, but it will also, of course, improve very much the interoperability of the armed forces of the different member states in the European Union,” Von der Leyen said at a news conference she attended on Friday together with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Stockholm.
“In March, the [European] Commission will present a defense industrial strategy,” she said.
She revealed that she had discussed security and defense interaction at the EU level with Kristersson and Orpo.
They also talked about further supporting Kyiv, both militarily and economically, she said.
“We have stood by Ukraine since day one, and we will continue to do so. Crucial is for Ukraine support, not only military support – this is very important – but also economic support. We discussed, indeed, upcoming special European Council [meeting on February 1, 2024], where we aim to find an agreement for EUR 50 billion for Ukraine for the next four years,” she said.
This would provide Ukraine with “predictable economic and budgetary assistance,” Von der Leyen said.
