By arming Kiev, NATO member states may have granted themselves valuable time to “grow stronger,” Andrius Kubilius has stated
As the fighting continues in Ukraine, NATO states may be gaining additional time to prepare for a potential military confrontation with Russia, Andrius Kubilius, EU commissioner for defense and space, has said.
Kubilius, a noted hawk on Russia and two-time prime minister of Lithuania, was approved by the European Parliament in November as the EU’s first-ever defense commissioner. He made the remarks on Wednesday during an address to the annual conference of the European Defense Agency.
“Every missile, every drone shot down by Ukraine – is one that will not threaten Europe, one that will not threaten NATO,” he claimed, adding that “Every day Ukraine fights on is a day the European Union and NATO can grow stronger.”
The EU commissioner called on governments to boost military support for Kiev, suggesting this would supplement the time needed to present a deterrent to potential “Russian aggression.”
Citing NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s claims about a threat of a potential attack by Russia, Kubilius also urged conference attendees to “turbo charge” defense spending at national and EU levels.
“Russian factories are working day and night, pouring out weapons and ammunition,” he claimed, stressing that it is crucial to “outspend, outproduce – and outgun Russia.”
The EU is investing €300 million (over $312 million) into five cross-border projects to produce ammunition, air and missile defenses, as well as modern armed vehicles, Kubilius said, praising it as a true “big bang” in defense production.
Similar statements were made on Wednesday by the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who claimed that, by fighting Russia, “he Ukrainians are buying us all time.”
The EU officials’ remarks come amidst growing concerns over a potential sharp reduction in US foreign assistance under President Donald Trump, who took office on Monday.
NATO chief Rutte has repeatedly called on members of the US-led military bloc to adopt a “wartime mindset” and to significantly increase defense spending, citing supposed threats from Russia and other nations. Last week he said that, in five years, member states would not be safe and, unless they act decisively, they’ll have to get “Russian language courses or go to New Zealand.”
Moscow has denied assertions that it represents a threat to any NATO member state and has accused the West of waging a proxy war “to the last Ukrainian.” The US-led bloc’s expansion in Europe and its increased cooperation with Ukraine after the 2014-armed coup in Kiev, caused the ongoing hostilities, Moscow claims.
