If we are to preserve basic principles such as self-determination and the inviolability of borders, Putin cannot win this war. Such a statement made the President of the EU Commission.

“It is no understatement to say that the world has been watching our response to Russia"s aggression very closely. The stakes are clear to everyone. At the beginning of this year, Russia and China have openly declared a so-called unlimited friendship. And only weeks later, Russia launched its war against Ukraine – weeks later. The message could not be more explicit. If we are to preserve basic principles such as self-determination and the inviolability of borders, Putin cannot win this war. And Ukraine must win this war. This is absolutely clear. This is why we have mobilised our economic might like never before. In a matter of days and weeks, we have approved the most far-reaching sanctions ever implemented. And the sanctions are causing colossal damage to the Kremlin"s ability to wage war. Putin himself has admitted it. And the damage will only grow over time. Besides this, we have supported financially Ukraine with more than EUR 10 billion since the beginning of the war, and I am not including the bilateral support of our Member States. And we are working on the next tranche. More has to come for Ukraine.

My message to our Member States is very clear. And we used – for the first time ever – resources from the European budget on military equipment to sustain Ukraine"s brave defence effort. We will support Ukraine as long as it takes. We are doing it for Ukraine. We are doing this to uphold our European values. But we are also doing this to show – to Russia and the world – that breaking internationally shared rules comes with a massive cost. That has to be very clear. This effort must come together with a new European strategic thinking. Today, I would like to pin down three of its main tenets. First, to defend the rule of law and the rules-based order over time, we must neutralise Russia"s blackmail ability and strengthen our own capabilities to act. Second, we must support democracies that are most exposed to foreign threats – and I am not only thinking about Ukraine but also about the Western Balkans. And third, we must also look further, to global geopolitical shifts, and use our economic might to preserve and expand the rules-based global order”, - said Ursula von der Leyen.