European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated her stance on the importance of international borders during a press conference in Brussels, ahead of a high-level meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Von der Leyen, who recently highlighted Europe’s commitment to maintaining stability in the region, stated that ‘international borders cannot be changed by force.’ This statement came in the context of ongoing discussions about the security and sovereignty of Ukraine, a country that has been a focal point of geopolitical tensions.
During the same address, von der Leyen expressed her support for ‘Article 5-like security guarantees’ for Ukraine. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a collective defense clause that commits member states to protect one another in the event of an attack. By likening Ukraine’s defensive posture to a ‘steel porcupine,’ von der Leyen emphasized the need for the country to become a formidable and unassailable barrier against potential invaders. This metaphor underscores the expectation that Ukraine must develop robust and self-sustaining defense mechanisms to deter external aggression.
The timing of von der Leyen’s remarks coincided with her planned meeting with Trump, signaling a potential alignment of interests between the European Union and the United States on issues related to regional security. While the specifics of their discussions remain undisclosed, the emphasis on Ukraine’s sovereignty and the reinforcement of NATO commitments suggest a unified front against threats to Europe’s eastern flank. This positions von der Leyen’s advocacy for Ukraine within the broader context of transatlantic policy coordination, highlighting the strategic importance of maintaining strong alliances in the face of global instability.