Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed Wednesday that Europe would keep backing Ukraine and pressuring Moscow until a “just and lasting peace”, calling a revised US plan a “starting point” to end the war.
As reported by the Guardian, Von der Leyen begins her speech in the European Parliament by recalling last week’s Russian attack on Ternopil, which resulted in at least 34 deaths, including six children, and nearly 100 injuries.
With the work done in Geneva as Europeans, and with Ukraine and the US, we now have a starting point.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 26, 2025
I will outline some of the core priorities of Europe going forward ↓ https://t.co/NbTv2lIkTI
She accuses Russia of intensifying its attack despite diplomatic efforts to end the war and warns about Moscow’s neoimperialist ambitions.
“Over more than three and a half years into this war of aggression, this is the daily reality on the ground, and it shows that we can never lose sight of what Ukraine is sacrificing, what Ukraine is fighting for, its security, its freedom, its independence, because ultimately, this is what is at stake,” she said.
“I want to be clear from the very outset: Europe will stand with Ukraine and support Ukraine every step of the way,”
von der Leyen told EU lawmakers.
“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.
What does the EU mean by a just and lasting peace?
Discussing the recent talks, von der Leyen notably appreciated Trump-led peace initiatives and stated,
“we recognize that much more effort is required, but … thanks to the efforts of Ukraine, the US, and Europeans over the past few days in Geneva, we now have a starting point.”
She says the deal needs to deliver
“a just and lasting peace”
and
“real security for Ukraine and Europe,”
with no limitation on Ukraine’s armed forces, which she warns
“would leave the country vulnerable to future attacks.”
“This is as much about deterrence as it is about Europe’s security, because Ukraine security is Europe’s security,”
she says.
She also says the deal needs to uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty as she warns,
“we know that Russia’s mindset has not changed since the days of Yalta, seeing our continent in terms of spheres of influence.”
What financial mechanisms is the EU proposing for Ukraine?
Regarding the need to secure Ukraine’s financial needs, Von der Leyen also says,
“in the absence of any real intent of Russia to engage in peace talks, it is clear that we need to support Ukraine to defend itself.”
Von der Leyen also said the commission is now ready to present a legal text on this, and emphasizes that she
“cannot see any scenario in which the European taxpayers alone will pay the bill.”
