The moment has now come when decisive support for Ukraine from its partners could lead to a turning point in its war against the Russian aggressor.
This was stated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a joint statement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday in Brussels, ahead of a security session of the European Commission College.
“It has already been three years and seven months since Russia invaded Ukraine. Ukraine continues to resist on the battlefield, effectively not conceding any territory this year. It is remarkable. You know the figure: in the past 1,000 days, Russia has captured only 1% of occupied Ukrainian territory, despite over a quarter of a million Russian lives lost on the battlefield,” she said.
At the same time, the European Commission President highlighted the fact that Russia is under “increasing economic pressure.” “Looking at interest rates – they stand at 17%. Inflation exceeds 10%.” Furthermore, Russia’s GDP growth in 2025 is expected to fall to 0.9%, down from 4.3% last year.
“And I firmly believe that we are at a moment when decisive action on our part can lead to a turning point in this conflict,” von der Leyen emphasized.
She added that on Wednesday in Copenhagen, EU leaders at the summit will discuss further steps to strengthen support for Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia.
