EU chief calls for creation of a ‘European Security Council’

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has called for the establishment of a European Security Council to tackle the threat of Russian activities. During her annual state of the union address, von der Leyen suggested the creation of a forum that would include countries such as Britain and Ukraine. This move comes as Europe grapples with the growing risk posed by Russia's hybrid attacks, aimed at weakening support for Ukraine.

Von der Leyen emphasized that the nature and scale of these hybrid threats are increasingly serious, and that Europe needs its own counter-hybrid playbook. She proposed an emergency security protocol allowing any EU member state to convene urgent talks in case of crisis. The EU president also pledged stronger support for Ukraine during the toughest winter of the war, promising to provide humanitarian aid and reinforce Ukraine's power and heating supplies.

Additionally, von der Leyen backed plans to jointly develop an affordable, modular missile-defence system with Ukraine. She also pledged to step up efforts to develop Europe's own key military capabilities, pledging a new European instrument for strategic enablers.