European Union Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has announced a surprise visit to Kyiv later on Wednesday to show the bloc’s support for Ukraine as it fights back against the Russian invasion.
Dressed in the colours of Ukraine, Ms von der Leyen said during her State of the European Union address in Strasbourg that the bloc would come to the aid of Ukraine by opening its seamless single market more to Ukrainian products.
She said she would “discuss all this with President (Volodymyr) Zelenskiy”.
We have brought Europe’s inner strength back to the surface.
With unity, solidarity and determination.
My address #SOTEU ↓
https://t.co/P2TQ6IpudK— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 14, 2022
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The EU has already committed billions in aid to Ukraine since the February 24 invasion by Russia.
Ms von der Leyen announced that the bloc will provide €100 million to rebuild Ukrainian schools destroyed during the invasion.
The EU’s top official also proposed a reform of the bloc’s electricity market amid the energy price crisis hurting businesses and households.
Ms von der Leyen said a “deep and comprehensive reform of the electricity market” is required to reduce the influence of gas on electricity prices.
Natural gas is used to power industry, heat homes and offices and generate electricity.
Even before Russia started its war against Ukraine, many EU member states had been calling for a thorough and structural reform of the bloc’s energy market because they believe that the influence of gas in setting wholesale electricity prices is disproportionate.
“The current electricity market design … is not just to consumers any more,” Ms von der Leyen said.
