Ukraine, von der Leyen: “Higher costs for Moscow and pressure to negotiate”

Brussels, Dec. 3 (LaPresse) – “The IMF estimates that Ukraine will need 135 billion euros over the next two years, namely 2026 and 2027. This is necessary to keep the state and basic services running on the civilian front, but also to continue supporting Ukraine’s brave resistance on the battlefield, so that on the military front, from the very start, Ukraine can rely on Europe as the strongest and most consistent partner.” This was stated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the press conference presenting proposals to finance Ukraine’s needs. “We all know that we can never match the sacrifice of the Ukrainian people, but what we can match is their resistance, determination, and tenacity, and we can provide them with the means to defend themselves and lead peace negotiations from a position of strength, and since pressure is the only language the Kremlin responds to, we can also increase it. We must raise the costs of Putin’s war of aggression, and today’s proposal gives us the means to do so,” she stressed. “Therefore, today we are sending a very strong signal to the Ukrainian people: we are ready for the long term to provide them with the means to defend themselves and, even more importantly, the means to lead peace negotiations from a position of strength,” she added. “And the message to Russia is that the reparations loan, or the EU loan, one of the two solutions, is increasing the cost of the war for Russia and invites Russia to sit at the negotiating table to finally find peace,” she concluded.