President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has confirmed the importance of reaching a fair and lasting peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, with real guarantees for European security. In an interview with Politico, she stated that Europe is obligated to protect itself from any potential threats and to counter the challenges it faces.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
— I want to start with a question that is on everyone's mind: will there be a financial agreement for Ukraine as long as it continues its war with Russia?
— We are working tirelessly to achieve a fair and lasting peace, and I emphasize the words 'fair and lasting' because a peace agreement must be robust enough to prevent any future conflict. In my view, the most difficult issue is the matter of the land, and this is a decision that only the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, can make. The second issue is providing real guarantees for European security, which must be very strong to ensure stability. The third issue concerns the frozen Russian assets, and we are working intensively on this file to ensure the possibility of accessing these funds, and then providing them to Ukraine as a loan to support it over the next two years.
— How confident are you now that Belgium will approve these plans?
— The situation with Belgium is completely different, and I can say it is a very constructive process. This is not an easy task; it is a true innovation without precedent.
— My question is for the European leaders: if you fail to reach an agreement, are you concerned that Zelenskyy will be forced to accept a peace agreement that is not in his country's best interest?
— It is of the utmost importance that a peace agreement does not pave the way for a new conflict. We saw that in 2014, when the peace agreements and security guarantees were not resilient or strong enough, and Russia exploited the situation to regroup, and then the war broke out again in 2022.
— Going back a bit to the United States, to our interview with President Donald Trump, and to the recently issued National Security Strategy, we see that U.S. policy, in part, aims to 'build up resistance' to the European Union on this continent. What is your response to America's current policy towards the EU?
— Generally, we do not have the right to determine the leader of the United States regarding elections. This is a matter for the American people and must be protected. The sovereignty of the voters is perfectly clear. And this is one of the reasons that prompted us to propose 'safeguarding democracy' now, because this phenomenon is spreading widely, and we must protect our democracy and ensure the integrity and freedom of elections.
— It is surprising to talk about a 'shield of democracy' when it comes to the United States, especially after hearing the criticisms from European leaders. What is your view on that after what you have heard?
— My relationship with U.S. presidents has always been excellent, and it remains so to this day. I am a firm believer in the transatlantic approach, but the most important thing is to define our position and be proud of our belonging to the European Union, and to focus on our strengths and to counter the challenges we face. Europe must protect itself. If we take this into account, it is natural that our relationship with the United States will change over time, because we are also changing.
— Let's look ahead to 2026. What is the one thing you would most like the Commission to achieve next year?
— As guardian of the Treaty, the most important thing I wish for is to enhance the competitiveness, prosperity, and democracy of the European Union. But if we look at the matter more broadly, my greatest wish is to achieve peace, and above all, peace in Ukraine. I think a lot about those who have been suffering for four years, and I admire their incredible resilience. Therefore, peace is what I wish for in 2026.
Source: Politico
