The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, risked relations with the UK by comparing Ukraine with Ireland.
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In her speech at a joint meeting of the Irish Parliament in Dublin, dedicated to the fiftieth anniversary of Ireland’s membership in the European Union, von der Leyen compared the Ukrainian crisis to Ireland’s struggle for independence from Britain.
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“Of course, Ireland is far from the events in Ukraine. But you understand better than anyone why it is so important for all of us. Like our friends in Eastern Europe, you know that more is at stake in Ukraine than the future of one country…” — said the head of the European Commission.
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British Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg reacted painfully to such a remark.
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“This is an extraordinary statement for Ursula von der Leyen: undiplomatic, unwise and wrong,” he said.
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Earlier, the head of the European Commission issued a statement on the need to bring Russia to “international responsibility” and use frozen Russian funds to restore Ukraine. In support of her words, the head of the EC noted, in particular, that “according to estimates to date, more than 20,000 civilians and 100,000 soldiers have died.” Representatives of Ukraine called the statement a mistake.
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Subsequently, the paragraph on the death toll was completely removed from both the written and video statements of the head of the EC. The press service of von der Leyen explained this as an “inaccuracy” and noted that it was about “the dead and wounded.”
