The president of the European Commission defended this Wednesday that Russia represents “an existential threat not only to Ukraine, but also to Europe” and warned that a Russian victory in Ukraine “would change the course of European History”.
Ursula Von der Leyen spoke at a festive ceremony at the European Parliament, in the French city of Strasbourg, to mark the 20th anniversary of the biggest enlargement in the history of the European Union, completed on May 1, 2004 with the simultaneous entry into the bloc of 10 new member states.
Hailing the great enlargement of 20 years ago and considering that “it is natural to look forward to new enlargements”, the president of the community executive nevertheless considered it her “duty to transmit today a very clear message about the future” of the European Union ( EU), in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine started by Russian President Vladimir Putin more than two years ago.
“What happens in Ukraine will shape the future of our Union forever. We cannot ignore and we cannot underestimate the fact that Russia poses an existential threat not only to Ukraine, but also to Europe. A victory for [Vladimir] Putin would not only change the map, not only mask the face of the Ukrainian nation, he would change the course of European history. Our Union would never be the same,” he declared.
Noting that “Ukraine is carrying this heavy burden on its shoulders” across Europe and “is paying the highest price every day for it”, Von der Leyen argued that “there is only one way to face” the current situation , because “there is only one language that Putin understands, and that is providing Ukraine with the means to defend itself.”
“Putin believed that we would not defend democracy and the independence of Ukraine. He was wrong. Putin believed that military support from the United States would not pass the American Congress. He was wrong, once again. Military assistance from the United States and our assistance, from the European Union, is an incentive to do even more. And we have to be very clear about this. Because for Europe to win in the future, as it did 20 years ago, Ukraine has to win,” he said. .
Emphasizing that “Ukraine made its European choice” by applying to join the community bloc, Von der Leyen said that the EU also made its “Ukrainian choice” by launching the process for membership, just as it made a choice “so many years ago” when he decided to welcome “so many countries”.
“And the decisions we make in the coming weeks, months and years will decide who wins Europe’s future. So together, let’s stay united. Let’s stay strong on Ukraine. And let’s stay ambitious on enlargement and reforms. This is how we will fulfill the European promise once again, just as we did 20 years ago”, he concluded.
