STRASBOURG:&nbsp;EU chief Ursula von der Leyen warned Wednesday the 27-nation bloc must move faster to boost its economy and defenses, faced with a new world order defined by &quot;raw power&quot;. Addressing the European Parliament, von der Leyen said Europe had to toughen up to influence the world around it -- while warning the United States that strife between &quot;allies&quot; over Greenland would only embolden rivals of the West. &lsquo;Volatile situation&rsquo;&quot;The shift in the international order is not only seismic, but it is permanent,&quot; she told lawmakers, citing the &quot;volatile situation&quot; around Greenland, but also Russia&#39;s relentless bombing of Ukraine and tensions from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific. &quot;We will need a departure from Europe&#39;s traditional caution,&quot; said the European Commission President. &quot;We now live in a world defined by raw power -- whether economic or military, technological or geopolitical. And while many of us may not like it, we must deal with the world as it is now.&quot; &lsquo;Simply wrong&rsquo;Speaking as US President Donald Trump was on his way to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, von der Leyen described his threat to slap tariffs on European allies as &quot;simply wrong&quot;. &quot;If we are now plunging into a dangerous downward spiral between allies, this would only embolden the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape,&quot; she said. &lsquo;At a crossroads&rsquo;&quot;We are at a crossroads,&quot; von der Leyen told lawmakers, as EU leaders prepare to meet Thursday in Brussels to forge a common response to Trump&#39;s threats. &quot;Europe prefers dialogue and solutions -- but we are fully prepared to act, if necessary, with unity, urgency and determination,&quot; she said. Trump insists that mineral-rich Greenland is vital for US and NATO security against Russia and China, as a melting Arctic opens up and the superpowers jostle for strategic advancement. But his push to acquire it from Denmark has enraged European leaders, plunging US-EU relations to an historic low.

Europe

Addressing the European Parliament, von der Leyen said Europe had to toughen up to influence the world around it -- while warning the United States that strife between ‘allies’ over Greenland would only embolden rivals of the West.

In 'raw power' world, Europe must shed 'traditional caution': EU chief

STRASBOURG:&nbsp;EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday the bloc must take a decision on financing Ukraine at a crunch summit this week, with leaders under pressure to agree a plan to use frozen Russian assets. &ldquo;There is no more important act of European defense than supporting Ukraine&#39;s defense. The next days will be a crucial step for securing this, it is up to us to choose how we fund Ukraine&#39;s fight,&rdquo; von der Leyen told EU lawmakers. &ldquo;We know the urgency. It is acute. We all feel it. We all see it.&rdquo; 90B Euro loanVon der Leyen is pushing a plan to use frozen Russian central bank assets to provide Kyiv a 90-billion-euro loan over the next two years -- but that move faces fierce opposition from Belgium, which hosts most of the funds. Belgium fears the scheme could open it up to Russian reprisals and is insisting on rock-solid guarantees from other EU countries that they will share any legal and financial liabilities. Attempts to reassure the Belgian government have so far failed to break the deadlock, setting up a potentially marathon round of wrangling at the summit starting Thursday. In theory other EU leaders could override Belgium and ram the initiative through with a weighted majority -- but that would be a nuclear option that few see as likely for now. Fallback plan&nbsp;Von der Leyen&#39;s executive has floated a potential fallback plan of the EU raising the money itself to lend Ukraine. Diplomats have said that scheme appears to be a non-starter as it requires unanimous approval from the EU&#39;s 27 leaders and Hungary has ruled it out. &ldquo;We will have to decide which way we want to take, which route we want to take -- but one thing is very, very clear, we have to take the decision to fund Ukraine,&rdquo; von der Leyen said. &ldquo;This is also about strengthening Ukraine&#39;s ability to secure a real peace, one that is just, one that is lasting, and one that protects Ukraine and Europe.&rdquo;

Ursula von der Leyen tells EU lawmakers, ‘There is no more important act of European defense than supporting Ukraine's defense. The next days will be a crucial step for securing this, it is up to us to choose how we fund Ukraine's fight.’ 

Articles tagged with "EU chief Ursula von der Leyen"

In 'raw power' world, Europe must shed 'traditional caution': EU chief

Coming days crucial for keeping Ukraine funded: EU chief