Debate: The need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
Date: TUESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Ursula von der Leyen
Language: EN

Two years ago, Putin and Russia started a war against something, a war against Ukraine and its territory, but also against the people and a nation with an iron will and hope for the future; against their European aspirations; against the values they share with us; and quite simply, against both modern reality and the strong tides of European history. In doing so, Putin started a fight against all of us, against freedom, self-determination and democracy at large; against everything that we have stood for over 70 years. Ukraine has proven the power of a nation and a people fighting for something. For themselves first and foremost, but also for us and for everything that we believe in: freedom, democracy, rights and aspirations. Some were surprised by Ukraine’s heroic action. But no one should have been surprised that, when faced with oppression, subjugation and tyranny, they chose resistance.  That is why, honourable Members, I remain just as convinced of one simple fact today than I was two years ago standing in front of you. That is that Ukraine will prevail and that Europe will stand with Ukraine every step of the way. Honourable Members, we have spoken in great detail over the last two years on the EU’s historic and massive support for Ukraine – be it military, financial or human; be it on sanctions, security or the single market; be it on the historic path of Ukraine to our Union that this House has been such a strong supporter of. But today, on this poignant anniversary debate, it is time to look deeper at how we have got there and where we must go. The starting point is that Ukraine – and Europe – have shown that we are willing to fight and pay the ultimate price for the things that we believe in. This was one of Putin’s greatest miscalculations in that month of February, as he amassed troops on the border and planned a quick lightning strike on Kyiv. Mr Putin, you made this mistake because you cannot understand what drives the human spirit when it is free to think, dream, create and prosper. Nor can you understand, because you cannot bear to accept that the human desire for freedom will always win. Honourable Members, Putin cannot understand that if you give people a choice, they choose liberty once and for all. In Ukraine’s case, they fight for liberation. He cannot understand that the fight of the Ukrainian is different to the fight of a Russian soldier, whose lives Putin has callously churned for a past long gone and a future that could never exist. Ukraine’s sacrifice is the opposite. Why do they fight? Because they are battling, toiling, for something existential and inherent to the human condition. This is why Ukraine’s will is not just stronger than Russia’s. It is fundamentally different in nature and in character. This is what Putin will never comprehend about us. This is why his invasion was not just morally, but also strategically, wrong. He cannot understand freedom and why we fight for it, because his only instinct is to crush what he fears. This explains what has happened in the last two years. Instead of toppling Kyiv, dividing the European Union and weakening NATO, the exact opposite has happened on each and every count. With the support of the European Union and our allies, Ukraine has not only held firm against a bigger country, a bigger army and a bigger economy, but it has retaken more than half of the territory that Russia occupied from the start of this conflict. They have knocked back Russian offensives last winter and are doing the same now. This indomitable spirit is what we have to keep in mind here in Europe and right across the democratic world at this juncture of the war. There’s no time for wavering. There’s no time for navel-gazing. The message Europe sent at last week’s European Council was crystal clear. Let me repeat it here. Europe will be at Ukraine’s side for every single day of this war, and for every single day thereafter. Honourable Members, we must keep up our momentum to support Ukraine and to protect our own future. That means thinking about reconstruction, about security commitments, about strengthening the international system to avoid any repeats or reruns. It also means continuing to support Ukraine in every way we can. Take military support. So far, we have trained over 40 000 Ukrainian soldiers. Our Union and Member States have mobilised EUR 28 billion worth of military equipment. The European defence industry has increased its production capacity for ammunition by 40 %. We will have delivered over half a million rounds of artillery shells by next month, more than 1 million by the end of the year. But this is certainly not enough. Not only must we accelerate the delivery of ammunition to Ukraine, but as we look to the future, we must think of Ukraine’s defence capabilities as part of our defence capabilities. We must think of Ukraine’s defence industry as part of our own defence industry. This is why we have involved Ukraine in the preparations of our own Defence Industrial Strategy. It is a first step, which should lead to integrating Ukraine in some of our defence programmes, with the agreement of the European Parliament and Council where necessary. This would not only help us cater for Ukraine’s defence needs, it will also encourage convergence and joint planning between our militaries and defence industries. Ukraine is a future member of our European Union, so it must get much closer to us, also in the field of defence. This leads me to my third and last point on Ukraine’s path towards our Union. The contrast with just ten years ago couldn’t be starker. Back then, a pro-Russia regime in Ukraine was passing authoritarian laws and killing protesters on the streets. Today, this country has just given itself new legislation to expand national minority rights, to improve the judicial system, and to ensure checks and balances on power. This is what led us to launching the accession negotiations. This progress is happening not only because Europe is asking for it. This is the deep desire of the people of Ukraine. Ukraine is Europe, because Europe is in the hearts and in the minds of Ukrainians. Soon enough, Ukraine will also be in our Union. Honourable Members, the anniversary that we mark today is a tragic loss of human lives and suffering, and it is all the more tragic as we know there will be more pain and more suffering ahead. We know how much is at stake here for those in Ukraine and also for the rest of Europe. Putin’s fantasy and fabricated war, and Ukraine’s heroic resistance, has reminded us here that our freedoms and our democracy are worth fighting for. So today, we pay tribute to those who are fighting, and we pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in fighting for something.