Commission President Ursula von der LEYEN deliver her State of the European Union address to the European Parliament. First part of the speech on the support for Ukraine. This transcript is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

State of the Union debate - SOTEU 2022: Statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission (part 1)

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SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Thank you, Madam President. Honourable members, my fellow Europeans, never before has this Parliament debated the State of our Union with war raging on European soil. And we all remember that fateful morning in late February, Europeans from across our Union woke up dismayed by what they saw, shaken by the resurgent and ruthless face of evil, haunted by the sounds of sirens and the sheer brutality of war.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But from that very moment on, a whole continent has risen in solidarity at the border crossings, where refugees found shelter, in our streets filled with Ukrainian flags, in the classrooms where Ukrainian children made new friends. From that very moment, Europeans neither hid not hesitated. They found the courage to do the right thing. And from that very moment, our union as a whole has risen to the occasion.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Fifteen years ago, during the financial crisis, it took us years to find lasting solutions. A decade later, when the global pandemic hit, it took us only weeks. But this year, as soon as Russian troops crossed the border, into Ukraine, our response was united, determined and immediate. And I think we can be proud of that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We have brought Europe's inner strength back to the surface and we will need all this strength. The moments ahead of us will not be easy. But for the families who are struggling to make ends meet or businesses who are facing tough choices concerning their future, let us be very clear. Much is at stake not just for Ukraine, but for all of Europe and the world at large. And we will be tested, tested by those who want to exploit any kind of division between us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And this is not only a war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine. This is also a war on our energy. It's a war on our economy. It's a war on our values. It is a war on our future. It is about autocracy against democracy. And I stand here with a conviction that with the necessary courage and with the necessary solidarity, Putin will fail and Ukraine and Europe will prevail.

State of the Union debate - SOTEU 2022: Statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission (part 1)

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