"Ursula von der Leyen stated that Ukraine should be transformed into a 'steel porcupine.'"

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that Ukraine needs to be positioned as a strong player. This should be achieved by providing the country with defense resources that will turn it into a sort of "steel porcupine."

This information is reported by RBK-Ukraine citing a video of von der Leyen on social media platform X.

"We must put Ukraine in a position of strength so that it has the means to bolster and protect itself. This is essentially transforming Ukraine into a steel porcupine that cannot be digested by potential invaders," the head of the European Commission stated after a meeting of European leaders in London.

She emphasized that the focus is not only on military supplies but also on ensuring the security of the energy system and making sure that, over time, the country becomes strong and resilient.

Ursula von der Leyen also mentioned that the urgent need for rearmament in Europe was the second element discussed at the meeting.

"We really need to make significant strides. Right now, it is extremely important to increase defense investments over the long term. This is essential for the security of the European Union. And we need to... prepare for the worst," she said.

It is expected that on March 6, during an emergency EU summit in Brussels, the head of the European Commission will present a new plan aimed at sharply increasing defense spending across all 27 member states. She specified that the plan will consist of three key points:

• loosening fiscal rules to enable even more government funding;
• attracting common European Union resources;
• expanding the participation of the European Investment Bank.

As a reminder, following the meeting of European leaders in London today, Ukraine and Britain signed a significant agreement in the field of security and defense. In particular, the project worth £1.6 billion is aimed at strengthening Ukraine's air defense by 2030.

For more details about the agreement, read the RBK-Ukraine article.