Von der Leyen: European security talks require Ukraine ceasefire first
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said discussions on Europe's security can only begin once a ceasefire is reached in Ukraine, and pledged new Black Sea funding.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that any serious discussion of Europe's security architecture can only happen once a ceasefire has been reached in Ukraine, speaking during a visit to Romania ahead of this week's Abu Dhabi talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
She called for bringing the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub fully into operation, and welcomed closer cooperation between Türkiye, Romania and Bulgaria on securing the region. The EU, she said, needed to treat defence and security with greater urgency.
Von der Leyen said conditions in the Black Sea had worsened in recent weeks, pointing to drone attacks on commercial shipping that have killed some sailors and left others missing. She called for freedom of navigation there to be restored and preserved, citing its importance to Europe, Ukraine's economy and global food supplies.
Von der Leyen announced an additional €10 million in funding for Romanian search-and-rescue operations, and Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu separately said the European Commission had pledged €50 million towards operationalising the Black Sea maritime security hub.
On the Abu Dhabi talks, von der Leyen said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had asked European partners for support and that the EU was providing it, with ending Russia's war in Ukraine as the central goal of the negotiations. She said the EU was also preparing a post-war prosperity plan to support Ukraine's stability and reconstruction.
Moscow has said the US-mediated talks, due to run Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, should remain strictly trilateral between Russia, Ukraine and the US, without direct European participation. The talks will be the fourth round of negotiations under the Trump administration and the first since the previous round in Geneva in February.
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What we know
- 1 outlet · Observador Von der Leyen said any serious talks on Europe's security architecture can only begin once a ceasefire is reached in Ukraine.
- 2+ outlets · Antena 3 CNN, Digi24 +1 She called for the rapid operationalisation of the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub during a visit to Romania.
- Official · Romania's prime minister She announced €10 million in funding for Romanian search-and-rescue operations; Romania's prime minister said the Commission has also pledged €50 million for the Black Sea hub.
- 1 outlet · Observador She said drone attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea have killed sailors and left others missing.
- Official · The Kremlin The Kremlin says Abu Dhabi talks, due Tuesday and Wednesday, should be strictly trilateral between Russia, Ukraine and the US.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The Black Sea is a key route for grain exports and energy supplies, and recent drone attacks on commercial shipping there have already cost sailors' lives, according to von der Leyen. Her insistence that a Ukraine ceasefire must come before any talks on Europe's own security underlines the gap between the EU's position and Russia's push to keep European governments away from the Abu Dhabi negotiating table.
Sources
Reported by 8 reports from 8 independent outlets in 6 countries.
- Dan: Novi test evropske bezbjednosti: Crno more – crvena linija Evrope
- Ukrainska Pravda: Перемовини в Абу-Дабі: "ЄвроПравда" назвала, хто представлятиме Європу та НАТО
- Observador: Mar Negro. Von der Leyen defende liberdade de navegação
- G4Media: FT: Reprezentați ai Comisiei Europene și NATO vor fi prezenți la negocierile de pace de la Abu Dhabi
- Tert.am: EU to send joint team to Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Abu Dhabi
Source balance
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Intelligence file
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Confidence and impact scores, 4 more sources, the full situation report and the event timeline.
Questions and answers
- What did von der Leyen say about Ukraine's security?
- She said serious discussions on Europe's security architecture can only take place once a ceasefire is reached in Ukraine.
- What did she announce for the Black Sea?
- An additional €10 million for Romanian search-and-rescue operations, and continued EU support for operationalising the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, which Romania's prime minister said includes €50 million in EU funding.
- Will the EU take part in the Abu Dhabi talks?
- The EU says it will be present alongside European partners, though the Kremlin says the talks should remain strictly trilateral between Russia, Ukraine and the US.
This article was written with AI assistance from 9 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.