Quotes
Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself, as we have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for a lasting and just peace.”
Arriving at the summit, Von der Leyen told reporters
Europe must become more sovereign, more responsible for its own defence and better equipped to act and deal autonomously with immediate and future challenges and threats,
states the latest draft conclusions seen by the GuardianThe European Union will truly turn a page on a Europe of defence,
said a senior EU official before the meeting, referring to Thursday’s summitI am convinced that Russia will lose this arms race – just as the Soviet Union lost a similar arms race 40 years ago.”
he said, addingThe question is no longer whether Europe's security is threatened in a very real way,
von der Leyen said in a statement ahead of the emergency meeting
Who can believe that this Russia of today will stop at Ukraine?"
he asked in an address to the nation on Wednesday night.jpg)
I want to believe that the United States will stand by us. But we have to be ready if that is not the case,
French President Emmanuel Macron said of the war in Ukraine in an address to the French nation on the eve of the summit
It gives more fiscal space to member states for military expenditure and it gives the possibility for joint procurement on a European level,
commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday
If that is there we have no reason, of course, to block conclusions,
Mr Fico said before heading to the summitFaced with this world of danger, remaining a spectator would be madness,
Mr Macron said