- Title: Von der Leyen: Supporting Ukraine is costly, but freedom is priceless
- Date: 15th September 2022
- Summary: KYIV, UKRAINE (SEPTEMBER 15, 2022) (REUTERS) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, BEING INTERVIEWED BY REUTERS JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING: "The main focus right now is on supporting Ukraine financially with the military capabilities Ukraine needs. And we see now that the sanctions have a deep effect in the Russian economy. They are really grinding into the Russian economy. So it needed a certain amount of time that they unfold the impact and this is visible now." INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING: "Well, it is important that we understand that, yes, this comes at a high cost. But our freedom, the international peace order and democracy is priceless. And besides the overarching motivation to make sure that autocracy will not win, but democracy will prevail. And I am deeply convinced that Ukraine and Europe, the democracies, will prevail." INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING: "As much as in the last month, today, more than ever, it is necessary that Ukraine gets the military capability it needs to defend itself because Ukraine has proven that it is capable if it has the capabilities provided by, for example, the member states or other friends. That is absolutely important. And I must say it was and is impressive to see the bravery of the Ukrainian armed forces, their motivation. It is good that they had this military success because I know it has to be consolidated. But it was lifting spirits not only in Ukraine but all over Europe. " INTERVIEW ENDING
- Embargoed: 29th September 2022 19:59
- Keywords: European Commission chief Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy Von der Leyen
- Location: KYIV, UKRAINE
- City: KYIV, UKRAINE
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA001568115092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Supporting Ukraine comes at a high cost, but freedom is "priceless," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told Reuters on Thursday (September 15) amid soaring inflation and high energy prices in Europe.
Speaking in Kyiv, Von der Leyen reiterated that the bloc would be unwavering in its backing of Ukraine, as cracks start to appear among member states in how to further punish Russia for the invasion of its neighbour.
The EU's sanctions on Russia are finally having a deep and visible impact, Von der Leyen told Reuters in an interview hours after she met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
"It needed a certain amount of time for them to unfold their impact, and this is visible now," the head of the EU's executive body said.
Asked about the potential impact of Europe's developing energy crisis on support for Kyiv, Von der Leyen said standing with Ukraine "comes at a high cost, but our freedom, the international peace order, and democracy, is priceless."
The EU jointly funded military aid for the first time in its history to support Ukraine this year, through the European Peace Facility.
Von der Leyen said further support from the programme would likely be forthcoming in future, and described Ukraine's recent lightning counter-offensive in its north-east and south as "lifting spirits, not only in Ukraine but all over Europe."
The September assault has seen Kyiv claim the recapture of around 9000 square kilometres of land from Moscow, the vast majority of that in the north-eastern region of Kharkiv.
Asked about further EU help to bolster the counter-offensive, Von der Leyen gave no indication that support would diminish.
"More than ever, it is necessary that Ukraine gets all the military capability it needs to defend itself," she said, without giving further details.
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