Putin and Netanyhau will be laughing at EU after von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech

Russian president Vladimir Putin and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be laughing at the EU after European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union speech in the European Parliament on Wednesday (16 September). Her answer to spiralling Russian aggression was … one new strategy document and two new sets of meetings. Her answer to Israel’s killing spree in Gaza and the West Bank was … to call it “unacceptable”. Meanwhile, threats to Europe posed by US president Donald Trump were also mentioned, but without naming him once. Von der Leyen listed Russia’s latest sabotage attacks against EU states and invited a Ukrainian girl, Sasha, an amputee, to Strasbourg to listen to her. To read this story, log in or subscribeEnjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a subscriber for as low as €1,75 per week.Read without limitsAlready a subscriber? Login