Also fighting for Europe’s freedom: Ukrainian soldiers, here during an exercise in November 2023.
Image: dpa
The EU should also become a defense union after the European elections. This is one of the consequences of the attack on Ukraine, say Ursula von der Leyen and Friedrich Merz. A guest post.
ATwo years ago this Saturday, Putin began his attack on Ukraine, which violated international law. We all remember the images of columns of tanks, the images of bomb craters and destroyed homes in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Many military experts predicted in the first days of the war that Kiev would soon fall and Ukraine would lose the war against Russia.
Things turned out differently. With courage and bravery, the Ukrainian people have refuted the predictions and proven themselves in a battle that initially seemed hopeless. Today Ukraine has expelled Russia from half of its occupied territories. The Russian army has lost around 50 percent of its combat effectiveness in Ukraine. Ukraine has managed to push back the Russian Black Sea Fleet and reopen a maritime corridor for grain exports around the world. And most importantly: the country has retained its freedom and independence.
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