Ursula von der Leyen
“Ukraine has generated strong military momentum. The balance of power is shifting,” von der Leyen wrote on the social media platform X immediately after arriving in the Ukrainian capital. According to her, the European Commission will present new initiatives that will allow for deeper integration of Ukraine’s and the European Union’s defense industries in order to “produce more and faster.”
The visit’s agenda includes talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on developing defense cooperation and preparing the country for another winter of war, Euronews reports.
One of the concrete outcomes of the meeting was an agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on cooperation in the production of drones. The document calls for combining Ukrainian technology with European manufacturing capabilities to increase drone production. Brussels hopes that this approach will allow for a faster ramp-up of weapons production, both to meet Ukraine’s needs and to strengthen the European Union’s own defense capabilities.
Von der Leyen’s visit is taking place amid intensifying European discussions on further strengthening support for Kyiv. The European Union has already begun implementing a multibillion-euro loan assistance program for Ukraine, and EU member states are continuing to coordinate a new, 21st package of sanctions against Russia.
For the President of the European Commission, this trip marks her eleventh since February 2022. During this time, Kyiv has become one of the key centers of European diplomacy, and cooperation between the EU and Ukraine has expanded beyond financial aid and arms deliveries to include joint weapons production and deeper integration of the defense industries.
It should be noted that Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv accompanied by the leaders of six countries—Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Romanian President Nicușor Dan, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović, Albanian President Bajram Begaj, and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša.
