European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen today said that the European Union should consider using profits from frozen Russian assets to buy military supplies for Ukraine, Reuters reported.
“It is time to start a conversation about using the windfall profits of frozen Russian assets to jointly purchase military equipment for Ukraine,” she told the European Parliament in a speech. “There could be no stronger symbol and no greater use for that money than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to live.”
Leyen warned EU member states that though the war may not be imminent for the bloc, it is still at risk.
“The risks of war should not be overblown, but they should be prepared for and that starts with the urgent need to rebuild, replenish, modernise member states’ armed forces,” she said.
Stressing the need for Europe to manufacture next generation battle winning capabilities, Leyen added that Europe would need to turbo-charge its defence industrial capacity in the next five years.
Clarifying that, Europe spending more on defence would not diminish the need for NATO alliance, she said, “In fact, a more sovereign Europe, in particular on defence, is vital to strengthening NATO.”
Leyen is seeking a second term in office and her comments come at a time when Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet with Balkan leaders in Albania, seeking to keep support and weapons flowing to Kyiv as Russia makes gains on the battlefield two years after invading its neighbour.
Leyen had visited Kyiv on February 24 to express support for Ukraine on the second anniversary of Russia’s all-out invasion.
“More than ever we stand firmly by Ukraine. Financially, economically, militarily, morally. Until the country is finally free,” she said.
Ukraine has faced a severe shortage of Western-supplied ammunition leading to Russian forces gaining ground on the battlefield.
