Russia produces significantly more weapons than all NATO allies combined and, according to intelligence reports, over the next five years it could be ready to attack one or more EU member states.
This was stated on Wednesday by European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius, who spoke in Warsaw, presenting the EU White Paper – Readiness 2030 defense plan, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
As the European Commissioner emphasized, Russia is producing weapons “on a massive scale” and in three months it is capable of producing more weapons than all NATO allies are in a year. He stressed that, according to Western intelligence, Russia “is getting ready to challenge NATO Article 5 even before 2030”. “In five years or less, Russia could be willing and able to attack one or more EU countries.”
Kubilus stressed that, in order to prevent war, it is necessary to prepare for it.
“We must reach a state of readiness that will deter Putin,” the European Commissioner noted.
He recalled that two weeks ago the European Commission presented its initiatives to significantly increase defense spending within the framework of the White Paper – Readiness 2030.
Kubilius stressed that protecting the EU also means protecting Ukraine, since “by protecting Ukraine, Europe is thereby protecting itself.”
According to him, after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the EU supported Ukraine with military aid worth EUR 50 billion.
“That’s a lot, but annually it is less than 0.1% of our GDP. We can and must do more. The White Paper sends a very clear and strong signal: Ukraine’s security and the European Union security is one and the same. Ukraine’s defense is an integral part of European defense, and European defense is an integral part of Ukraine’s defense,” Kubilius emphasized.
He noted that the White Paper clearly states that the EU must step up military support for Ukraine, and the integration of the Ukrainian and EU defense industries is also necessary.
“Integration will benefit also European industry and our member states, because Ukraine produces modern weapons and equipment at much lower prices, and because we can learn a lot from Ukraine. Ukrainian defense industry is young and dynamic, and was tested on the battlefield, and is leading in innovation when it comes to artificial intelligence and when it comes to drones,” Kubilius stated.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, the EU White Paper “Readiness 2030” envisages creating conditions under which European countries would be able to increase defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP.
Source: Kubilius reflects on Russia’s potential plans to attack EU
