Ursula von der Leyen warns EU ‘must be ready for dangers of struggle’
Ursula von der Leyen has warned that EU states ‘must be ready for the dangers of struggle’ and have to ‘urgently’ rebuild their armed forces after Macron refused to rule out sending troops to Ukraine.
The European Commission President stated the specter of struggle for the EU ‘might not be imminent, however it’s not not possible’.
‘The dangers of struggle shouldn’t be overblown, however they need to be ready for and that begins with the pressing have to rebuild, replenish, modernize member states’ armed forces,’ she stated.
Her feedback come after French president Emmanuel Macron warned that whereas there was ‘no consensus’ on the sending of Western troops to Ukraine, ‘nothing must be excluded’ following a gathering of two dozen European leaders in Paris.
This induced a worrying response by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who stated if NATO members despatched their troops to battle in Ukraine, ‘we would wish to speak not concerning the chance, however concerning the inevitability (of a direct battle)’.
Getting concerned within the struggle in Ukraine with boots on the bottom would break a serious taboo the West has to date been reluctant to problem – till now, NATO members have solely equipped weapons to the Ukrainian military.
Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) has warned that EU states ‘must be ready for the dangers of struggle’ and have to ‘urgently’ rebuild their armed forces after Macron refused to rule out sending troops to Ukraine
A Ukrainian artillery place fires within the course of Bakhmut in Donetsk on Monday
While French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal reaffirmed Macron’s feedback saying: ‘You cannot rule something out in a struggle,’ Downing Street stated there have been no plans for ‘large-scale’ troop deployment to Ukraine.
A NATO official, who spoke on situation of anonymity, additionally emphasised ‘there are not any plans for NATO fight troops on the bottom in Ukraine’ regardless of the ‘unprecedented army assist’ from the alliance.
In at this time’s speech to the European Parliament, Von der Leyen additionally revealed perception into a brand new European Industrial Defence Strategy that her fee will current within the coming weeks, saying considered one of its predominant goals can be to prioritise joint procurement.
‘Europe ought to attempt to develop and manufacture the subsequent technology of battle-winning operational capabilities,’ she stated. ‘That means turbo-charging our defence industrial capability within the subsequent 5 years.’
She stated higher European efforts in defence wouldn’t diminish the necessity for the NATO alliance. ‘In truth, a extra sovereign Europe, particularly on defence, is significant to strengthening NATO,’ she added.
She additionally stated that the EU ought to think about using earnings from frozen Russian property to purchase army provides for Ukraine.
‘It is time to begin a dialog about utilizing the windfall earnings of frozen Russian property to collectively buy army tools for Ukraine,’ she advised the European Parliament in a speech urging the EU to do extra on defence coverage.
‘There may very well be no stronger image and no higher use for that cash than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to stay.’
Macron additionally urged to do extra to assist Ukraine within the struggle with Russia, saying that ‘we now have seen hardening on the a part of Russia, particularly these previous few months’.
He stated this had manifested itself in February 16 demise in custody of President Vladimir Putin’s prime opponent Alexei Navalny, but in addition in a hardening of Russia’s positions on the frontlines, the place it was planning ‘new assaults’.
Macron stated a ‘leap’ was wanted from the West in its strategy that ‘takes under consideration the transformation of the risk from a army and strategic perspective’.
Her feedback come after French president Emmanuel Macron (pictured) warned that whereas there was ‘no consensus’ on the sending of Western troops to Ukraine, ‘nothing must be excluded’ following a gathering of two dozen European leaders in Paris
Ukrainian servicemen from the assault brigade ‘Bureviy’ (Hurricane), a unit of the Ukrainian National Guard, shoot the 105 mm Italian OTO Melara Mod 56 Pack Howitzers from their positions within the Avdiivka course, at an undisclosed location within the Donetsk space, jap Ukraine, February 27
Macron’s remarks induced a worrying response by Putin (pictured) spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who stated if NATO members despatched their troops to battle in Ukraine, ‘we would wish to speak not concerning the chance, however concerning the inevitability (of a direct battle)’
But Macron’s feedback about NATO contemplating sending boots on the bottom, a attainable plan that was revealed by pro-Moscow Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (pictured proper with Macron, left) forward of the assembly, had been met with warnings by Russia
He added that NATO ‘will do no matter it takes to make sure that Russia can’t win this struggle’.
The French chief introduced new steps to spice up Kyiv in its battle towards Vladimir Putin‘s troops, together with sending missiles and bombs to the nation.
Macron stated the brand new coalition can be set as much as provide Ukraine with ‘missiles and bombs of medium and lengthy vary to hold out deep strikes’.
There was a ‘broad consensus to do extra and faster’, he added. ‘Nothing might be excluded to realize our goal. Russia can’t win that struggle.’
Macron additionally stated there was consensus that ‘the defeat of Russia is indispensable to safety and stability’ on the continent. Russia, he stated, was displaying a ‘extra aggressive perspective not simply in Ukraine however basically’.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda had been amongst round 25 European heads of state and authorities on the convention within the Elysee Palace in Paris.
Other states despatched ministers, with international secretary David Cameron in Paris for Britain, and the United States and Canada had been additionally represented.
But Macron’s feedback about NATO contemplating sending boots on the bottom, a attainable plan that was revealed by pro-Moscow Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico forward of the assembly, had been met with warnings by Russia.
‘The actual fact of discussing the opportunity of sending sure contingents to Ukraine from NATO international locations is an important new factor,’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated when questioned about Macron’s remarks.
Peskov stated that the West ought to ask themselves if such a situation was within the pursuits of their international locations and their peoples.
Western officers have already acknowledged that Russia dangers gaining the higher hand within the battle this yr as Ukraine runs out of weapons and ammunition.
Ukrainian servicemen of the 68th Separate Jager Infantry Brigade ‘Oleksa Dovbush’ hearth a howitzer in direction of Russian positions, at an undisclosed location within the Donetsk area, jap Ukraine, on Monday
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech to open a convention in assist of Ukraine with European leaders and authorities representatives on the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on February 26
A Ukrainian soldier prepares in a shelter to fireside artillery in Donetsk, jap Ukraine
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov stated on Sunday that half of the Western army help pledged to Kyiv is delivered late, noting that ‘dedication doesn’t represent supply’.
Revealing the magnitude of Ukraine’s human losses, Zelensky stated 31,000 Ukrainian troopers had been killed within the struggle with Russia.
A French presidential official, who requested to not be named, stated the assembly wanted to contradict any ‘impression that issues are falling aside’ after Ukraine’s setbacks on the battlefield.
‘We need to ship a transparent message to Putin that he won’t prevail in Ukraine,’ the official stated.
There are rising doubts concerning the viability of long-term US backing for Ukraine as a brand new help bundle struggles to seek out legislative approval and Donald Trump, who has indicated opposition to additional assist for Kyiv, eyes a return to the presidency in elections this yr.
