Overview
- Opening her State of the Union in Strasbourg, Ursula von der Leyen urged European unity and independence in defense of values and freedoms.
- She proposed financing new loans for Kyiv using cash flows linked to immobilized Russian assets, stressing the assets themselves would remain untouched and that risk would be shared collectively.
- Repayment by Ukraine would come only after Russia pays reparations, a structure she framed as making Moscow ultimately foot the bill for war damages.
- Von der Leyen said the EU will advance €6 billion from a G7 loan to establish a drones alliance with Ukraine to provide industrial scale and sustain Kyiv’s edge over Russia.
- The Commission is sticking to its August 1 trade position as Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic noted Washington is applying both exemptions and a 15% car tariff, while Socialists—echoed by Stefano Bonaccini—criticized the deal as unfair; over 100 MEPs staged a Gaza flash mob before the speech.