“We should have listened to those who know [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. To Anna Politkovskaya, and all the Russian journalists, who exposed the crimes and paid the ultimate price. To our friends in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and the opposition in Belarus,” - Ursula von der Leyen, said. 

Expressing support for Ukraine, the EU Commission Head said the EU would maintain sanctions against Russia “because now is the time for decisive action, not concession”, noting that she would visit Kyiv later on Wednesday.

The EU official also stressed Putin had not only launched Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “but also started an energy and economic war against Europe”. 

“Millions of Europeans need support to pay their energy bills”, - she said, noting some companies were producing electricity at low cost and made great margins and proposing a “cap on their revenues that will raise more than €140 billion”, in addition to a “deep reform [of] our electricity market”.