EU Commission Chief Visits Front-Line States to Strengthen Defense Against Russia
The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, is on a seven-country tour of front-line states to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to supporting them against Russian aggression. This visit aligns with intensified efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to negotiate a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has now entered its fourth year, reports 24brussels.
Von der Leyen’s itinerary includes stops in Poland, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, and Romania—countries sharing borders with Russia or Belarus. This diplomatic mission marks her most significant push on EU security and defense since the onset of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
During her visit, von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk toured Ozierany Male, inspecting a newly completed electric fence along the Polish-Belarusian border.
Tusk emphasized the importance of the border, equating its significance to the liberation from “Soviet domination” 45 years ago, in reference to the milestone accord of August 31, 1980. “The border is as important as the dream of liberation,” he stated.
“Poland, Europe, NATO, and the United States must once again show the same resolve that was felt 45 years ago when Solidarity was founded. They must remain tough, decisive, and united against this next version of the evil empire,” Tusk declared.
He further noted that von der Leyen’s presence at the Polish-Belarusian border was an effort to gather support across Europe to secure and strengthen this critical frontier, advocating for the investment of European funds in its defense.
