“Too much is at stake, and we cannot wait any longer”, she argued, stressing the urgency for Europe to take care of its own security.

On Ukraine, she stressed that “Peace must be a real one that does not simply lull all into a false sense of security by allowing an aggressor to keep trying to take over sovereign nations. Peace must guarantee freedom for Ukraine, security for Europe and a deterrent for those who think they can take it through force.”

On defence, she called on the EU to invest more in defence: “Our ambition must match the unprecedented threat, the boldness of our proposals, and the speed at which they are put into action.” She was encouraged to see many good proposals on the table. “Extraordinary times require immediate measures, so I welcome all creative and flexible solutions to substantially increase and accelerate our investments in the defence sector.”

She reassured leaders that the European Parliament can adjust to demanding circumstances by…