Europeans must do more and faster to increase their defence capabilities. Not only to support Ukraine, but for his own protection," said president Josep Borrell in Brussels after a gathering of defence ministers. The gathering was besides attended by the Secretary-General of NATO, who constantly urges members of the Alliance to increase defence spending.
Josep Borrell, advanced typical for abroad Affairs and EU safety Policy (right), and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
A gathering of the abroad Affairs Council was held in Brussels on Tuesday 19 November, chaired by the advanced typical for abroad Affairs and safety Policy Josep Borrell. In the morning, Deputy Minister of National Defence Paweł Zalewski announced in the Belgian capital that EU countries would sign a letter of intent on developing cooperation in the field of air defence. The politician ensured that EU countries "declared to search common production capacity and joint investigation and improvement capacities". According to Zalewski, as PAP reports, this is crucial in the context of the Polish-Greek task to build a European air shield.
Apart from national defence ministers, he besides participated in Tuesday's meetings NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Just before the sitting, he said that Ukraine would surely be the main subject of the talks. – present it is 1,000 days since the Russian unprovoked full-scale attack on Ukraine. So present we will discuss how we can aid Ukraine to win – said the NATO chief and added that this means "more aid and more money".
Rutte besides pointed out the dangers arising from Russia's relations with North Korea, China and Iranthe request to invest in the defence industry. " Fortunately, NATO and the EU are working closely together to guarantee that the industrial base is strengthened in the coming months. We truly gotta do this. To replenish our supplies, to confirm ourselves that we are ready to argue any opponent," said the secretary-general.
The Head of the Alliance appreciated "the European side of NATO" of 2% of GDP allocated to defence, but in the current situation it is not enough. That's definitely not enough. We request to make certain that we spend more on defence so that deterrence and defence are possible not only present but besides in the long term," added Mark Rutte.
During a brief conversation with Rutte journalists, he stressed that "he could not be more arrogant of what Ukraine did to win, being 4 times smaller, having an economy that is only 25% of the size of the Russian economy." The NATO chief stated that he was convinced that if Ukraine had lost, Putin's urges would not have ended there. This poses a direct threat to all of us in the West. Our values and our collective safety are at risk, so we request to be convinced that Ukraine's triumph is the number 1 on the list of priorities present – signed Mark Rutte.
At the end of the meeting, president Josep Borrell spoke at a press conference and briefly summarized the discussions. “The war in Ukraine shows that Russia is gaining support from China, North Korea, Iran and others, which is in deep contrast and opposition to the intention to accomplish peace,” Borrell said and recalled that the European Union has committed to Military support of Ukraine EUR 45 billion already. The nonsubjective of transferring 1 million artillery missiles has besides late been achieved. The EU is ready to proceed to support Kiev, utilizing inter alia frozen Russian assets to strengthen Ukraine's industrial capacity. According to the President, this is the best way to aid build the country's defence potential.
"I can say that present at the gathering of defence ministers and yesterday at the gathering of abroad ministers a crucial majority, with insignificant exceptions, showed determination to proceed supporting Ukraine," Borrell said. France, Germany, Poland, Spain and Italy were among the top supporters of specified action.
