Ursula Von der Leyen: Putin Must Demonstrate He Wants Peace, Not Ukraine’s Destruction

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen questioned Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s intentions for negotiations, stating that he must demonstrate commitment to peace. She made the statement at the Munich Security Conference on February 14.

“Putin says he’s willing to meet, but on what terms? It is up to him to demonstrate that his interest is not to prolong this war. It is up to him to show that he has given up on his ambitions to destroy Ukraine,” von der Leyen said.

“Let me be very clear: a failed Ukraine would weaken Europe, but it would also weaken the United States,” she concluded.

The Munich Security Conference  is taking place in Munich on February 14-16.

Earlier, US presidential envoy Keith Kellogg said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin must engage in direct negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to bring an end to the war, despite his refusal to recognize the Ukrainian leader’s legitimacy, according to German media outlet Tagesschau on February 14.