"Russia's preparing for a confrontation with Europe's democracies"

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has stated that Russia's preparing for a confrontation with Europe. According to her, the era of security and peace for Europeans is over.

"The era of peace dividends has long been over," said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, during a speech to military cadets in Denmark.

Ms Von der Leyen warned that Russia "is preparing for a future confrontation with European democracies". According to the President of the European Commission, this is due to Europe's oldest partner, the United States, now focusing on the Indo-Pacific region.

"The security architecture we relied on can no longer be taken for granted. The era of spheres of influence and competition between powers is well and truly back," she emphasised.

Faced with the Russian threat, Europe is stepping up its efforts to support Ukraine and bolster its own defence capabilities. Ms von der Leyen endorsed the creation of a new "joint task force with Ukraine", while Brussels discusses plans to supply Kyiv with two million artillery shells this year, as well as air defence systems and attack missiles.

"This is what we call the steel hedgehog strategy," she highlighted.

(MH with AmBar - Source: The Times - Photo: ©DPA - Wiktor Dabkowski)