EU must prepare for war, says von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, stated that the EU must be ready for the risk of war, which is not imminent but possible. She announced plans to double ammunition production, aiming to produce over 2 million artillery shells annually by 2025. Addressing the European Parliament, she emphasized the need to rebuild and modernize European defenses with increased supplies and means. Furthermore, von der Leyen highlighted discussing the potential release and use of $285 billion in seized Russian assets for purchasing military equipment for Ukraine. This proposal aligns with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s urgency to assist Ukraine using frozen funds, which could incentivize Russia to seek peace. The EU will soon unveil a new defense industrial strategy to prioritize joint procurement and development of next-gen operational weapons, reinforcing the defense capacity and complementing NATO’s strength.