Ursula von der Leyen
Signed a bloc-wide drone production deal with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, defended the EU's 21st Russia sanctions package against Chinese retaliation, called for a united European response to a mass migration surge into Spain's Ceuta, and coordinated EU firefighting aircraft across Southern Europe's record wildfires — all within weeks.
Ursula von der Leyen is managing four crises at once and treating each as a test of European solidarity. In the last weeks of July she signed a bloc-wide drone production deal with President Zelenskyy in Kyiv, defended the EU's 21st Russia sanctions package against Chinese retaliation, called for a united European response to a mass migration surge into Spain's Ceuta, and coordinated EU firefighting aircraft across record wildfires in France, Spain, and Greece.
The Kyiv visit on July 15 produced the most concrete deliverable: a drone production pact integrating 18 EU and Ukrainian defense companies to build joint drones and counter-drone systems by end-2026, backed by a €1 billion disbursement from the €90 billion Ukraine loan. She authorized a €5.9 billion tranche and permitted Ukraine to purchase Chinese drone components when domestic alternatives fall short — a pragmatic concession at a moment when Beijing is squeezing European defense firms.
China's retaliation for the sanctions package barred dual-use exports to 14 European entities including Rheinmetall, a move expected to raise European military aid costs to Ukraine by 15-25%. Von der Leyen held firm, insisting the sanctions continue to weaken Russia's war effort. The package itself required overcoming a Greek veto with a one-year LNG exemption, freezing the oil price cap at roughly $44 per barrel, disconnecting 33 Russian banks from SWIFT, and listing 218 individuals and entities.
On migration, she demanded solidarity after 50,000-60,000 migrants surged into Ceuta from Morocco — a crisis that already pushed Italy to suspend Schengen movement with Spain and prompted calls from several EU leaders to suspend Spain from Schengen entirely.
Her South Caucasus diplomacy in early July laid groundwork for both trade and security: a Connectivity Partnership with President Aliyev in Baku backed by up to €200 million in grants, followed by a €288 million package for Prime Minister Pashinyan in Yerevan making 80% of Armenian exports tariff-free to pull trade from Russia toward the EU.
She also announced legally binding social media age limits banning addictive features for under-13s, presented the Commission's seventh Rule of Law Report showing only 47% of 2025 recommendations addressed, and drove a new trade regime cutting tariff-free steel import volumes 47% while replacing the €150 de minimis exemption with a €3 parcel duty to counter a €360 billion China trade imbalance. She co-authored an op-ed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte pushing European industry to produce weapons at scale and speed, underpinning NATO's decision to manufacture Abrams tanks, ATACMS, and Stinger missiles on the continent.
On their plate
Von der Leyen flew to Kyiv on July 15 to sign a bloc-wide drone production deal with President Zelenskyy, integrating 18 founding companies across EU and Ukrainian defense industries to produce joint drones and counter-drone systems by end-2026. The Commission disbursed €1 billion from the €90 billion Ukraine loan and authorized a €5.9 billion tranche, including permission for Ukraine to buy Chinese drone components when domestic alternatives are unavailable. She framed Ukraine as having built real military momentum amid its shadow-fleet drone campaign against Russian vessels.
She drove the 21st sanctions package through a Greek veto deadlock by granting a one-year LNG exemption, freezing the Russian oil price cap at roughly $44 per barrel, disconnecting 33 Russian banks from SWIFT, and targeting the 600-plus-vessel shadow fleet. When China retaliated by barring dual-use exports to 14 European entities including Rheinmetall — a move expected to raise European military aid costs to Ukraine by 15-25% — she insisted sanctions continue to weaken Russia's war effort.
After 50,000-60,000 migrants surged into Spain's Ceuta from Morocco, von der Leyen called for solidarity and a united European response. The crisis pushed Italy to suspend Schengen visa-free movement with Spain and several EU leaders to press for Spain's suspension from Schengen altogether.
As record wildfires across France, Spain, and Greece displaced 330,000 people, von der Leyen coordinated EU firefighting aircraft and personnel across the region, declaring that European solidarity knows no limit.
She drove a new restrictive trade regime cutting tariff-free steel import volumes 47% and doubling the over-quota duty to 50%, while removing the €150 de minimis customs exemption for e-commerce parcels and replacing it with a €3 duty. The moves target a €360 billion trade imbalance with China and protect European retailers from low-value imports. She tasked her team with proactively using the EU's trade-defense toolbox ahead of the inaugural high-level EU-China trade consultation in Brussels, which produced the first joint communique since 2019.
Key relationships
Signed a bloc-wide drone production deal with Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Ukraine's Statehood Day, integrating 18 EU and Ukrainian defense companies and disbursing €1 billion from the €90 billion loan.
Co-authored a joint opinion piece with the NATO Secretary General calling for a stronger European defense industry capable of producing at scale and speed, backing NATO's on-continent production of U.S. weapons systems.
Appointed Executive Vice-President Fitto as EU Special Representative for Cyprus, tasking him to coordinate with the UN Personal Envoy on reunification efforts — a move welcomed by Cyprus but rejected by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as null and void.
Met Pashinyan in Yerevan on July 2 to announce a €288 million economic and energy package, making 80% of Armenian exports tariff-free to re-route trade from Russia toward the EU, while Pashinyan maintained dialogue with Moscow and ruled out an EU membership referendum.
Met Aliyev in Baku on July 1 to launch the EU-Azerbaijan Connectivity Partnership, backed by up to €200 million in grants to mobilize €2 billion in infrastructure investments including the Port of Baku and Nakhchivan railway.
Consulted the UN Secretary-General by phone before appointing Raffaele Fitto as EU Special Representative for Cyprus, coordinating the EU role with UN-led reunification efforts and UN Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar.
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