MADRID, July 3 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday it was imperative for the European Union to address the issue of its enlargement as soon as possible to include countries such as Ukraine and Moldova to guarantee they do not fall under the influence of Russia or China.

Speaking in Madrid, von der Leyen said the bloc must look forward four years and imagine what the union should be like, The Associated Press reported.

“Can we imagine the European Union will be without Ukraine, without Moldova, without the Western Balkans? And those parts of Europe are under the influence of Russia or China? Impossible,” she said.

“So, the direction of travel is clear. And therefore, now we have to start to think about how are we making sure that Europe is whole, that those countries are part of the European Union.”

Von der Leyen spoke alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez following a meeting of EU commissioners and the Spanish government to review Spain’s plans for its six-month presidency of the EU Council, which began Saturday.

Von der Leyen said the enlargement issue must be addressed “as soon as possible because it will take us time to come to a conclusion.”

Continued support for Ukraine in its war with Russia was high on the agenda at the meeting and a priority for the Spanish presidency.

“We must double down on our support for Ukraine. It has now been almost 500 days since Russia’s brutal invasion,” von der Leyen said, praising the impressive resistance of the Ukrainian people.

“Now it is our duty to match that endurance, and that perseverance. This includes reliable and regular financial support,” she said, recalling that the commission is proposing 50 billion euros ($55 billion) in budget and rebuilding support until 2027.

EU officials estimate that the bloc’s institutions and 27 member states have provided around 75 billion euros in aid, arms and ammunition since the war began in February 2022. The EU provides 1.8 billion euros each month to help Ukraine keep its economy afloat.

Sánchez started the presidency on Saturday with a lightning visit to Kyiv to underline the bloc’s support of Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

Sánchez was adamant about keeping up that support in aid and arms.

“Europe and Ukraine together until victory and freedom,” he said Monday. (ap/ez)