European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that Europe was “hoping for the best” but “prepared for the worst,” as Russia remains poised for an attack on Ukraine, reads Politico’s article.
“This is a crisis that has been created by Moscow,” von der Leyen told MEPs in the Strasbourg hemicycle. “We are hoping for the best, but we are prepared for the worst.”
“Should the Kremlin choose violence against Ukraine, our response will be strong and united,” von der Leyen said, adding that the EU had prepared for a “robust and comprehensive” package of sanctions against Russia.
She added that Ukraine has become “a sovereign, more free, more strong country” than at the time of its Maidan Revolution in 2014.
“The idea that the Kremlin should decide what Ukrainians can or can not desire, we simply can not accept and the idea of sphere of influence are ghosts of the last century,” von der Leyen said.
