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European Union(EU) chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday vowed that Europe would continue supporting Ukraine and maintaining pressure on Russia until a “just and lasting peace” is achieved, describing a revised US proposal as a “starting point” for ending the war.
Addressing EU lawmakers, von der Leyen stressed: “Europe will stand with Ukraine and support Ukraine every step of the way.” Her remarks come as the EU seeks to reinforce Kyiv and strengthen its own diplomatic influence after the US put forward a peace plan widely viewed as favouring Russia’s terms.
The European Commission president said that days of negotiations aimed at refining the US draft had begun to create the foundations for a potential settlement. However, she warned that Moscow had shown no genuine willingness to halt its invasion. “Yes, the situation is volatile. Yes, the situation is dangerous. But I believe there is also an opportunity here to make real progress,” she said.
As Washington intensifies efforts to push for an end to the fighting, EU members remain divided over a proposal to use frozen Russian assets to guarantee a €140-billion (£119-billion) loan package for Ukraine. Von der Leyen said her team was preparing the necessary legal text, while Belgium — where most of the assets are held — continues to block the plan.
“To be very clear — I cannot see any scenario in which the European taxpayers alone will pay the bill,” she said.
EU officials hope leaders will formally approve the loan at a December summit, seeing it as vital to keeping Ukraine’s government functioning.
EU foreign ministers met by videoconference on Wednesday to discuss both the US initiative and Europe’s attempt to assert its own strategic position.
Von der Leyen insisted that “whatever the design of a future peace treaty, it is clear that much of the implementation will come down to the European Union and the NATO partners.”
“One principle has been accepted: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine; nothing about Europe without Europe,” she added.
