EU urges member states to quickly supply arms to Ukraine

In an interview with German newspaper Bild, Ms. von der Leyen mentioned her visit to Ukraine two weeks ago, including a visit to Bucha. She described the horrifying scene in Bucha with mass graves, bodies on the street, bombed houses…

She said she had met Ukrainian President Zelensky and praised him as “a calm, strong, very informed leader”. This visit once again “encourages me to support Ukraine and do everything possible to stop this unjustified act of aggression by Russia,” she said.

When asked if she supported the supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine, the President of the European Commission said: “I do not distinguish between heavy weapons and light weapons. Ukraine needs to get what they need to defend and what they can handle. The EU is providing 1.5 billion euros for this. Many member states offer supplements.”

“This applies to all member states: Which country can deliver quickly, because only in that way can Ukraine survive a fierce battle to defend itself against Russia,” she added. .

Assessing the impact of EU sanctions on Russia, she said: “Sanctions get deeper into the Russian economy every week: exports to Russia fall by 70%. 700 Russian planes lost their licenses due to lack of spare parts and software updates. Hundreds of large companies and thousands of professionals are turning their backs on the country. According to current forecasts, the gross domestic product in Russia will decrease by 11%.

She believes that Russia’s bankruptcy is “only a matter of time”.

The EU is preparing a sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which will focus on the banking sector, especially Russia’s largest bank Sberbank. Energy is also an area that will be punished.