EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to travel to Kyiv today and meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Von der Leyen said in her State of the Union speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg that the question would be how Ukraine would gain access to the EU internal market.

At the same time, she promised Ukraine emergency aid of 100 million euros to rebuild schools.

Zelenskyj's wife Olena Zelenska is also present in the plenary session of the EU Parliament.

Against the background of the war in Ukraine, she promised the citizens of the European Union that the months would be difficult.

"The coming months will not be easy," she said.

"Neither for families who have difficulty making ends meet, nor for companies that have to make difficult decisions about the future."

There is a lot at stake not only for Ukraine, but also for Europe and the whole world.

"We will be put to the test," von der Leyen said.

Russia's war is not only a war against Ukraine.

"This is a war on our energy supplies, a war on our economy, a war on our values ​​and a war on our future." Autocracy is fighting democracy.

She is firmly convinced that with courage and solidarity, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be defeated and that Europe will ultimately gain the upper hand.

Von der Leyen continued that Russia could not expect the EU sanctions to be lifted in the foreseeable future.

"I don't want to leave any doubt that the sanctions will last." Moscow bears responsibility for the fact that the Russian economy is falling behind.

"This is the price for Putin's trail of death and destruction." The EU's punitive measures against Russia are the harshest sanctions the world has ever seen.

She also said that Europe has stood by Ukraine since day one and will continue to do so in the long term.

The country was helped with weapons, financial support and the admission of refugees.

"So far, Team Europe has provided financial aid of more than 19 billion euros," said von der Leyen.

This does not include military support.

In order to relieve consumers in the EU, excessive profits from energy companies are to be skimmed off and redistributed in future.

Von der Leyen announced a proposed law against the high energy prices, which would affect producers of renewable electricity as well as gas and oil companies.

"Our proposal will bring more than 140 billion euros for the member states to cushion the emergency immediately," said von der Leyen.

The State of the Union address is given by the President of the European Commission every September.

It is based on the American State of the Union address, which is considered one of the most important speeches by the American President.