EU Commissioner Expresses Hope for Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
An EU commissioner has suggested that extending the Moscow-Kiev conflict could give NATO members time to gear up for a possible confrontation with Russia. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
As the conflict in Ukraine persists, Andrius Kubilius, the EU commissioner for defense and space, has asserted that NATO member states might be securing extra time to prepare for a possible military confrontation with Russia. Kubilius, a prominent advocate for a strong stance against Russia and a former two-time prime minister of Lithuania, was appointed as the EU’s inaugural defense commissioner by the European Parliament in November. He shared these insights during his speech at the annual conference of the European Defense Agency on Wednesday.
“Every missile, every drone shot down by Ukraine – is one that will not threaten Europe, one that will not threaten NATO,” he stated, emphasizing that “Every day Ukraine fights on is a day the European Union and NATO can grow stronger.”
He urged governments to enhance military support for Kiev, arguing that this would buy time to establish a deterrent against any potential “Russian aggression.”
Referencing NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte's warnings about a possible Russian attack, Kubilius called on participants to “turbo charge” defense spending at both national and EU levels. He highlighted the ongoing production of weapons in Russia, saying, “Russian factories are working day and night, pouring out weapons and ammunition,” and underscored the importance of outspending, outproducing, and outgunning Russia.
Kubilius also noted that the EU is investing €300 million into five cross-border initiatives aimed at producing ammunition, air and missile defenses, and modern armed vehicles, describing it as a significant “big bang” in defense manufacturing.
Echoing similar sentiments, the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas remarked that by resisting Russia, “the Ukrainians are buying us all time.”
These comments from EU officials come in the context of increasing anxiety regarding a potential decrease in US foreign aid following President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday. NATO chief Rutte has consistently urged members of the military alliance to adopt a “wartime mindset” and to substantially increase defense spending, citing perceived threats from Russia and other nations. Last week, he cautioned that members would not be safe in five years without decisive action, suggesting they might need to learn “Russian language courses or go to New Zealand.”
Moscow, on the other hand, has rejected the notion that it poses a threat to any NATO member, accusing the West of waging a proxy war “to the last Ukrainian,” while attributing the ongoing conflict to the expansion of the US-led bloc in Europe and its heightened cooperation with Ukraine since the 2014 coup in Kiev.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
“Every missile, every drone shot down by Ukraine – is one that will not threaten Europe, one that will not threaten NATO,” he stated, emphasizing that “Every day Ukraine fights on is a day the European Union and NATO can grow stronger.”
He urged governments to enhance military support for Kiev, arguing that this would buy time to establish a deterrent against any potential “Russian aggression.”
Referencing NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte's warnings about a possible Russian attack, Kubilius called on participants to “turbo charge” defense spending at both national and EU levels. He highlighted the ongoing production of weapons in Russia, saying, “Russian factories are working day and night, pouring out weapons and ammunition,” and underscored the importance of outspending, outproducing, and outgunning Russia.
Kubilius also noted that the EU is investing €300 million into five cross-border initiatives aimed at producing ammunition, air and missile defenses, and modern armed vehicles, describing it as a significant “big bang” in defense manufacturing.
Echoing similar sentiments, the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas remarked that by resisting Russia, “the Ukrainians are buying us all time.”
These comments from EU officials come in the context of increasing anxiety regarding a potential decrease in US foreign aid following President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday. NATO chief Rutte has consistently urged members of the military alliance to adopt a “wartime mindset” and to substantially increase defense spending, citing perceived threats from Russia and other nations. Last week, he cautioned that members would not be safe in five years without decisive action, suggesting they might need to learn “Russian language courses or go to New Zealand.”
Moscow, on the other hand, has rejected the notion that it poses a threat to any NATO member, accusing the West of waging a proxy war “to the last Ukrainian,” while attributing the ongoing conflict to the expansion of the US-led bloc in Europe and its heightened cooperation with Ukraine since the 2014 coup in Kiev.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
