Ursula Von der Leyen spoke at a festive ceremony at the European Parliament in the French city of Strasbourg to mark the 20th anniversary of the largest enlargement in the history of the European Union, which took place on 1 May 2004 with the simultaneous entry of 10 new Member States into the bloc.

Welcoming the major enlargement of 20 years ago and considering that "it is natural to look forward to new enlargements", the President of the Community Executive considered, however, that it was her "duty to convey a very clear message about the future" of the European Union (EU) today, in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine started by Russian President Vladimir Putin over two years ago.

"What happens in Ukraine will shape the future of our Union forever. We cannot ignore and we cannot underestimate the fact that Russia poses an existential threat not only to Ukraine, but also to Europe. A victory for [Vladimir] Putin would not only change the map, not only would it mask the face of the Ukrainian nation, but it would change the course of European history. Our Union would never be the same," she said.

Noting that "Ukraine is carrying this heavy burden on its shoulders" for the whole of Europe and "is paying the highest price every day for it", Von der Leyen argued that "there is only one way to face" the current situation, because "there is only one language that Putin understands, and that is to provide Ukraine with the means to defend itself".

"Putin believed that we would not defend Ukraine's democracy and independence. He was wrong. Putin believed that the US military support would not pass the US Congress. He was wrong, again. The US military assistance and our assistance, from the European Union, is an incentive to do even more. And we have to be very clear about this. Because for Europe to win in the future, as it did 20 years ago, Ukraine must win," she said.

Emphasizing that "Ukraine has made its European choice" by applying for membership of the Community bloc, Von der Leyen said that the EU has also made its "Ukrainian choice", by launching the accession process, just as it made a choice "so many years ago" when it decided to welcome "so many countries".

"And the decisions we make in the coming weeks, months and years will decide who will win the future of Europe. So, together, let us stay united. Let us stay strong on Ukraine. And let us stay ambitious on enlargement and reform. This is how we will once again deliver on the European promise, as we did 20 years ago," she concluded.

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