On 24 February 2022, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, gave a joint press conference on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium.

In her speech, Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attack and the cynical arguments to justify it. She added that a package of massive and targeted sanctions will be presented later this day to European Leaders for approval.

On his side, Josep Borrell Fontelles namely asserted the united position of the transatlantic partners and all European nations in saying no to violence and destruction as means to obtain political gains.