BRUSSELS, February 14. /TASS/. Many in Europe were confused by the latest statements by US officials, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in an address to the Munich Security Conference.
"Many in the security circles in Europe were confused - some even worried - by the comments made by senior US officials earlier this week. But we need to be honest here. And we need to avoid outrage and outcry. Because if we listen to the substance of the remarks, we do not only understand where they are coming from but recognize there are some remarks we can agree on," she pointed out.
According to von der Leyen, "both the EU and the US want an end to the bloodshed." "We want a just and lasting peace, one that leads to a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. And Ukraine should be given solid security guarantees. But perhaps what resonates with me the most is the need for Europe not only to speak frankly but also to act accordingly. So let there be no room for any doubt," the European Commission chief went on to say.
She emphasized that "when it comes to European security, Europe has to do more." "Europe must bring more to the table. And to achieve this, we need a surge in European defence spending. Currently the EU27 are spending around 2% of GDP on defence. And yes, our defence spending went up from just over 200 billion euros before the war to over 320 billion euros last year," von der Leyen specified. "But we will need to increase that number considerably once again. Because from just below 2% to above 3% will mean hundreds of billions of more investment every year. So, we need a bold approach," she added.