EU chief "Ukra must decide territorial scope on its own"

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine should remain an independent country with the right to choose its own destiny.

In a speech at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, today (18th), Commission President von der Leyen said, "We must abide by the core principles of Ukraine, no matter what happens in the future."

In particular, he stressed that it is Ukraine's job to determine the territory's scope and that it must remember that Ukraine's security means that of Europe.

This is interpreted as a statement of caution against the early end of the war by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

President von der Leyen also said he had begun preparing the 16th sanctions, referring to the EU's 15th sanctions against Russia, which were imposed two days ago.

"Russian President Putin is working harder than ever through new weapons, new forces from North Korea, and attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities," he said, adding that EU support for Ukraine should be ironclad.