After an emergency virtual summit meeting hosted in Brussels today in the wake of the successful Putin-Trump summit on Aug. 15, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asserted that borders cannot be changed by force and that Ukraine must have security guarantees without any limitations on its armed forces. She spoke at a joint press conference with Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing (Lemmings), as reported by multiple media. The EU Neighbours East website reported her comment, “Ukraine must become a steel porcupine, undigestible for potential invaders,” she said on Aug. 17.
Zelenskyy is traveling to Washington, D.C. for a meeting with President Donald Trump on Aug. 18, and will be joined by von der Leyen, and the leaders of Finland, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. It was also reported that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will attend.
“Von der Leyen insisted on the need for strong security guarantees to protect both Ukraine and Europe’s vital security interests. ‘Ukraine must be able to uphold its sovereignty and its territorial integrity,’ she said, adding, ‘We welcome President Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine. And the Coalition of the Willing, including the European Union, is ready to do its share.’”
In other coverage, Zelenskyy has again stuck to his guns by asserting that there must be a ceasefire before any discussion of a settlement could take place, as reported in RT:
