New Head of the European Commission Proposed to Act against Russia from a Position of Strength

Home / News / New Head of the European Commission Proposed to Act against Russia from a Position of Strength
The elected head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen supported the continuation of the EU sanctions policy against Russia. “We have witnessed in many ways a hostile behaviour on the part of Moscow,” – she declared in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. She suggested answering it from a position of strength. Von der Leyen was elected President of the European Commission on Tuesday, July, 16. The former German Defense Minister was the first woman to head the highest executive body in the European Union. She will take office on the first of November. Answering the question about Russia’s influence in Europe, the politician said that the EU has ways to cope with this problem. “The Kremlin doesn’t forgive any kind of weakness, – said von der Leyen. –From a position of strength we should uphold the current sanctions and keep offering dialogue at the same time.” She noted that the EU is getting better at dismantling disinformation plots and social media campaigns with fake news. “It is our privilege as democracies to answer with transparency, free press and an open debate,” added the elected President of the European Commission. As Minister of Defense of Germany von der Leyen has already talked about the need to engage in dialogue with Moscow from a position of strenth, reminds RBC. “Recognition or leniency will not make Putin friendlier,” - she said in an interview with the German Bild in April last year. In March she noted that he no longer considers Putin as a partner, at the same time she was not ready to call him an enemy. Radio Liberty