Von der Leyen becomes the fiercest Putin adversary and EU leader in times of war

Created: 05/05/2022, 12:06 p.m

By: Katja Thorwarth

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen takes a clearer position than almost any other EU politician against Putin and the Russian war of aggression.

• Fight against the Russian war of aggression:

  EU Commission President von der Leyen is the leading prosecutor.

• Oil embargo against Russia

  : EU Commission is pushing for tougher measures.

• You can read

  all the news about the sanctions against

  Russia

  in the

  Ukraine conflict in our

  news ticker

  .

  This is continuously updated.

Brussels/Kyiv – Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) takes her position as President of the EU Commission very seriously.

This has never been as clear as during the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin is dealing with a prosecutor who has positioned herself clearly and consolidated her place at the top of Western leadership.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, speaks plainly to Putin.

© Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa

When von der Leyen proposed the sixth package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday (May 4), she presented the toughest measures to date, which are intended to paralyze the Russian economy and the activities of Putin and his vicarious agents more than before.

It specifically targets those who help keep Putin's dictatorship alive - including Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, who actively supports the bloodshed in Ukraine.

Sanctions against Russia in the Ukraine war: Von der Leyen as Putin prosecutor

New measures proposed by von der Leyen include a phased outright ban on Russian oil imports, with purchases of crude oil to end within six months and purchases of refined oil within a year.

This sanction could cost Russia "billions", according to EU Commission circles.

And even if some EU countries - including Hungary - are trying to get exceptions, European customers will stop buying Russia's most lucrative commodity export in the long term.

Further punitive measures affect the state news channel Rossiya 24 and two other programs – Brussels wants to cut the transmission frequencies here.

As Putin's mouthpieces, these television channels have "demonstrably spread his lies and propaganda aggressively," explained the EU Commission President.

In addition, European auditors and consultants should no longer be allowed to work for Russia.

War in Ukraine: Von der Leyen addresses Russian war criminals directly

"In this way we maximize the pressure on Russia and at the same time keep collateral damage to us and our partners worldwide as low as possible," emphasized von der Leyen.

In addition to speaking about the sanctions package, she also specifically targeted Russian war criminals: "First, we list high-ranking military officers and individuals who committed war crimes in Bucha and those responsible for the inhumane siege of the city of Mariupol." This is another important signal to all Kremlin perpetrators: We know who you are.

We will hold you accountable.

You can't get away with that."

War in Ukraine: Scholz cautious – von der Leyen with clear announcements

US President Joe Biden was open to new punitive measures and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) promised further military aid to Ukraine.

But he still wants to talk to the Kremlin boss.

Von der Leyen made a clearer statement in this regard: “Putin wanted to wipe Ukraine off the map.

And he clearly will not succeed.

On the contrary: Ukraine has grown in bravery and unity.

And it is his own country, Russia, that is letting Putin sink.” (ktho)