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EU Will Back Ukraine ‘Every Step Of The Way’ Until Peace

Von der Leyen said that "whatever the design of a future peace treaty, it is clear that much of the implementation will come down to the European Union and the NATO partners."

By Temitope Abe
Updated November 26, 2025
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Newly elected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gestures as she attends a news conference after a vote on her election at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France on July 16, 2019. German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen was narrowly elected president of the European Commission on July 16, after winning over sceptical lawmakers. The 60-year-old conservative was nominated to become the first woman in Brussels’ top job last month by the leaders of the bloc’s 28 member states, to the annoyance of many MEPs. FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP

 

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed Wednesday that Europe would keep supporting Ukraine and pressuring Russia until a “just and lasting peace”, calling a revised US plan a “starting point” to end the war.

“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.

Europe has been scrambling to shore up Kyiv and assert its own influence after the United States produced a plan to end the fighting that was heavily slanted towards Russia’s demands.

The European Commission president said days of negotiations to refine the US plan had begun to lay the groundwork for a possible settlement, but warned Russia showed no sign of really wanting to stop the war.

“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.

As the United States has stepped up its efforts to stop the fighting, the EU is wrangling over proposals to use frozen Russian assets to fund a mammoth 140-billion-euro ($162 billion) loan for Kyiv.

 

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Von der Leyen said her executive was preparing to present a legal text for the loan as Belgium — where the bulk of the assets are held — holds up the plan.

(FILES) European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)

“To be very clear — I cannot see any scenario in which the European taxpayers alone will pay the bill,” she said.

Officials hope EU leaders will formally approve the loan plan — seen as crucial for keeping Kyiv afloat — at a summit in December.

EU foreign ministers were holding talks by videoconference on Wednesday to discuss the US push on Ukraine and European efforts to make its voice heard.

Von der Leyen said that “whatever the design of a future peace treaty, it is clear that much of the implementation will come down to the European Union and the NATO partners.”

“One principle has been accepted: Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. Nothing about Europe without Europe,” she said.

 

AFP

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