Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1456293
9 UKRAINE CRISIS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 MARCH 2022 machine, Europe is told order to prevent war…It is clear that our deterrent hasn't been strong enough to stop mr Putins aggression." Ursula von der Leyen, Presi- dent of the European Commis- sion said this was a moment of truth for Europe. "This is a clash between the rule of law and the rule of the gun, between de- mocracy and autocracy… How we respond will determine the future of the international envi- ronment." She said that Europe must be there in the weeks and months to come, not just now for the Ukrain- ian refugees. "That's why we are proposing to activate a temporary protection mechanism so that they have access to schools, shel- ter and medical treatment…we need to do that now." "For the first time ever we are using the EU budget to deliver weapons to a country that is un- der attack. There is €500 million for the European peace facility. As a first batch we will match this with another €500 million to help the country and the ref- ugees." Manfred Weber, EPP leader, welcomed Zelenskyy's 'ques- tions' to the EU, saying Ukraine belonged to the European Un- ion. "Putin represents the opposite of our convictions: autocracy, brutality, and imperial ambi- tions. "We have to speed the energy transition up as Von der Leyen said. We are together bound to the United States with Joe Biden. We have to use this moment to have a new free trade agreement with the US." S&D chair Iratxe García Pérez said Putin's war against Ukraine marked the beginning of new stage in Europe and the world. "These are historic times and we need historic decisions… financial and military support to Ukraine, disconnecting Russian banks from the SWIFT platform, the activa- tion of the international protec- tion directive to assist Ukrainian refugees and banning the Krem- lin's media machine are all key steps as part of a qualitative leap in our capacity to respond." And the Greens co-chair Philippe Lamberts commend- ed the people of Ukraine. "Your resistance is a wakeup call to all democrats around the world, without the will to fight democ- racy will fall. "To your aggressor I say: your lies to justify war cannot and will not remain unchallenged… Ukraine is not ruled by Nazis. On the contrary, its legitimately elected president stems from a family who was bloodied in the Holocaust." "Prove that you indeed are Europeans, make us equal with the other countries in the Union, as is the dream of Ukraine… we are at a minimum exactly the same as you are" Ursula von der Leyen Below: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola looks on as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses MEPs