The European Union will be ready for tough negotiations with the United States to protect its own interests and will be pragmatic in trying to find solutions, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said as Europe braces for potential new U.

European officials need to manage diplomatic negotiations in a more volatile geopolitical environment, the commission president said in reference to a possible trade war between the bloc and the U.S.

The European Union should speed up the delivery of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. This issue will be on the agenda in the coming weeks, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says in a speech at the annual conference of EU diplomats.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that the EU is ready for "tough negotiations" with the US, while reaffirming the bloc’s commitment to safeguarding its interests.

Brussels hopes simplifying green compliance rules will boost Europe’s flagging economy. Green groups fear something more sinister.

Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression is a defense of its right to freedom and its place in the European family. Therefore, its accession to the European Union is a matter of justice for Ukraine and security for the EU.

"We will always protect our own interests – however and whenever that is needed," Ursula von der Leyen said after Donald Trump warned tariffs against the EU would happen "pretty soon." View on euronew

In a nod to the setting outside the stuffy EU capital, Rutte rocked what looked like a pair of Converse Chuck 70 sneakers in green ( on sale for €58.45 ), while von der Leyen donned a snazzy-looking pair of black trainers with a metallic accent (the closest we could find are these crocodile-leather bad boys ).