“Europe’s security is at a turning point,” the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who along with European Council President Anthony Costa will participate in an informal meeting of a small group of European leaders this afternoon in Paris.

“I have just arrived in Paris for crucial talks. Europe’s security is at a turning point. Yes, it is about Ukraine, but it is also about us. We urgently need a new way of thinking. We need a stronger defense. And we need both now.”

For his part, Antonio Costa notes that today’s meeting in Paris, chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, will discuss “the situation in Ukraine and the security of Europe.” “This is the beginning of a process that will continue with the involvement of all partners committed to the peace and security of Europe. The EU and its member states will play a central role in this process,” the President of the European Council stressed in a post on “X”.