At the World Economic Forum, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke out in favor of using confiscated Russian funds for the reconstruction of Ukraine. “We should turn every stone for this – if possible also Russian assets that we have frozen,” said the top German politician in Davos on Tuesday.
It is about repairing the damage caused by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s destructive fury and shaping Ukraine’s future according to the wishes of its citizens.
According to von der Leyen, the aim of the world community should be a defeat for Russia. “Ukraine must win this war. And Putin’s aggression must prove to be a strategic failure,” she said. “We will do everything in our power to help Ukraine assert itself and take the future back into its own hands.” Ukraine is part of the “European family” and is dealing with a crucial moment all democracies in the world do.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also confirmed in Davos that Russian President Vladimir Putin should not be allowed to succeed in his war of aggression in Ukraine. Putin’s attack is not only aimed at Ukraine, but all of Europe. “Spain reaffirms its solidarity and aid to Ukraine,” said the socialist in a speech on Tuesday. This also includes freeing Europe from dependence on Russian energy.
Spain could play an important role here. The country has six LNG terminals and large storage capacities. In the long run, Europe can only reduce dependencies through modernization, according to Sánchez.
US President Joe Biden described the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine as a global challenge. “This is more than just a European issue, it’s a global issue,” Biden said. “We are moving through a dark hour in our shared history.”
