Ursula von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, is a central figure in current EU policy and international relations. She is currently newsworthy for her role in advancing Ukraine and Moldova's EU membership aspirations, with accession negotiations officially beginning. Von der Leyen also announced proposals for new EU sanctions against Russia, including a potential ban on Russian soldiers entering the bloc, and has commented on the spillover fears from the Russia-Ukraine war, citing a drone explosion in Romania as a direct consequence. Her leadership is significant as the EU grapples with enlargement, seeking to demonstrate its capacity and willingness to integrate new members, as seen in discussions with Western Balkan countries. Furthermore, she has been involved in high-level trade talks, including with China, and previously participated in trade deal discussions with the US.