European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she held “a good discussion” with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, with both leaders agreeing to step up pressure on Moscow.
“I thanked him for his commitment to alleviate the plight of Ukraine’s missing children. Europe and the United States will work hand in hand to bring them back,” von der Leyen said Tuesday.
She added that she and Trump discussed Russia’s war in Ukraine and agreed on the need to cut Moscow’s revenues from fossil fuels.
“This is precisely what Europe is doing with our 19th package of sanctions,” she said. “We tighten the pressure, banning imports of Russian LNG into European markets and targeting refineries, oil traders and refineries in third countries. By 2027, Europe will have turned the page on Russian fossil fuels for good.”
Von der Leyen said the two leaders also spoke about Kremlin provocations, including repeated incursions into European airspace.
“These are clear attempts to test our response,” she said. “So Europe is speeding up its defence efforts to strengthen its eastern flank. It must act as a shield for both Europe and NATO.”
The commission president said the talks also covered the Middle East. “We both agree that the suffering of civilians must end. Europe stands firmly united behind the Two-State solution,” she said.
