Von der Leyen stressed that existing measures have proven effective against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort, highlighting that frozen Russian assets have already been redirected to support Ukraine.
“We need to prepare the 19th package so that Russia sees that we are serious,” she said. “We must continue to limit Russia’s potential.”
She added that the EU would keep targeting Russia’s war economy “to bring President Putin to the negotiation table.”
Von der Leyen is set to be among the European leaders who will accompany Zelensky when he meets with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
“These are challenging times,” von der Leyen said. “Only Ukraine can choose its own destiny, but Ukraine can always count on Europe,” she said.