Politics. Deal with Trump, Ukraine, Gaza...: Ursula von der Leyen faces MEPs

The agreement sealed with Donald Trump offers "crucial stability" and helps avoid the "chaos" of a trade war, Ursula von der Leyen claimed Wednesday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. "Think of the repercussions of an all-out trade war with the United States. Imagine the chaos," she told MEPs, who were bitter after the agreement on customs duties. The leader also assured that Europe would remain uncompromising on its environmental and digital legislation, which Donald Trump criticized again on Friday.

Ursula von der Leyen called on Wednesday for Europe to "become independent" in the face of a "new world order." "Nostalgia is no longer an option," the head of the European executive assured during a major speech to MEPs at the European Parliament. "It is simply impossible to wait quietly for the storm to pass," she pleaded.

The President of the European Commission denounced a "dangerous" and "unprecedented" violation of Polish and European airspace by "more than ten Russian Shahed drones." "Europe stands in full solidarity with Poland," she declared. "Europe will defend every square centimeter of its territory," she affirmed, calling on the Old Continent to strengthen its defense efforts in order to equip itself with "independent strategic means."

Ursula von der Leyen also announced on Wednesday that she would soon organize a summit "for the return of Ukrainian children" abducted by Russia. "All abducted Ukrainian children must be returned!" declared the head of the European executive after earning applause from a Ukrainian teenager present in the hemicycle of the European Parliament.

The European Union will continue to mobilize frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, but without touching the assets themselves. "We urgently need to work on a new solution to finance Ukraine's war effort from frozen Russian assets. Thanks to the cash balances associated with these Russian assets, we can provide Ukraine with a reparation loan," but "the assets themselves will not be touched," explained Ursula von der Leyen.

"Man-made famine can never be used as a weapon of war," she also warned, referring to the situation in the Gaza Strip. The United Nations declared on August 22 that a state of famine was raging in parts of the Palestinian territory besieged by Israel, a claim rejected by Israel.

The European Commission president proposed sanctions against "extremist" ministers in Israel and a partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement on Wednesday. "We will propose sanctions against extremist ministers and violent settlers. And we will also propose a partial suspension of the Association Agreement on trade-related issues," she told MEPs in Strasbourg, acknowledging that it will be "difficult" to find a majority of member states to adopt these measures.