Von der Leyen at the Budapest summit: Europe must take charge of its own destiny.
Ursula von der Leyen stated that the future of Europe lies in the hands of the Europeans themselves. This was reported by Voice of America, as conveyed by UNN.
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At the summit in Budapest, European leaders discussed the main security challenges and the future role of Europe on the global stage, especially in light of the power shift in the U.S. and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, called for unity and responsibility, emphasizing that Europeans must determine their own destiny while upholding the rule of law against challenges from autocratic regimes.
French President Emmanuel Macron supported this call, highlighting the need for greater EU autonomy in security and strategy matters. According to him, Europe should not rely entirely on the U.S. but should develop its own security policy. President of the European Council Charles Michel also added that the EU must strengthen its economic and political positions by building partnerships rather than dependent relationships with the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who also participated in the summit, stressed the importance of maintaining strong support between Europe and America, which is crucial for regional stability. At the same time, he emphasized that peace with a terrorist state can only be achieved through strength and resistance to aggression.