Von der Leyen: Ukraine’s sovereignty, security must be ensured

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine’s security must be guaranteed, emphasising that the country serves as the EU’s first line of defence in the long term.

Von der Leyen made the remarks on X, reaffirming the bloc’s continued backing for Kyiv, Caliber.Az reports.

“As peace talks are ongoing, the EU remains ironclad in its support for Ukraine. Our financing proposals are on the table. The goal is a strong Ukraine, on the battlefield and at the negotiating table,” she wrote.

“Ukraine’s sovereignty must be respected. Ukraine’s security must be guaranteed, in the long term, as a first line of defence for our Union. These priorities were are the center of our discussions with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte,” she added.

Von der Leyen concluded that Europe would continue contributing to efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

This statement came shortly after a high-level meeting in Brussels with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Council President Antonio Costa, underscoring coordinated transatlantic and European efforts to pressure Moscow while sustaining Ukraine's resilience.

Zelenskyy, who has resisted any deal undermining Ukraine's 1991 borders, used the meeting to lobby for enhanced military aid, including air defences and long-range strikes into Russia. Rutte, in his first major NATO outing since October 2024, stressed interoperability between EU and NATO support mechanisms.

By Khagan Isayev