Von der Leyen urges Europe to learn security lessons from Ukraine

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe must be ready to act decisively and ahead of potential threats to safeguard its security, stressing that the continent should draw lessons from Ukraine’s experience.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, she stated that Europe requires a new security strategy and an updated doctrine designed to protect its territory, economy, democratic systems, and way of life.

“Ultimately, this is the true meaning of independence,” she said.

Von der Leyen cited Ukraine as a key example, emphasising that strength, deterrence, and ultimately survival depend on industrial capacity. Referring to the Ukrainian principle “change or die,” she called for the removal of barriers between civilian industries and the defence sector. She noted that Europe is a major hub for automobile manufacturing, aerospace production, and heavy industry, and argued that these sectors should not be viewed solely as commercial activities but as essential components of the defence value chain.

She also underlined the growing importance of dual-use technologies, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity solutions, drones, and space systems. According to von der Leyen, drones are currently responsible for around 80% of combat losses on both sides in Ukraine, prompting the European Union to accelerate innovation and production in this area.

In this context, she referred to the EU’s newly established Defence Innovation Office in Kyiv, which aims to combine Europe’s scale with Ukraine’s speed and ingenuity.

The European Commission president further stressed the need for faster EU decision-making, urging wider use of qualified majority voting instead of unanimity in order to prevent individual member states from blocking initiatives.

“With this approach, we can quickly close the gaps in our capabilities. Some ask whether we can afford it. I say: we cannot afford not to,” she concluded.