Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius emphasised the need for increased integration between European and Ukrainian defence sectors.
Kubilius repeatedly emphasised that “Ukraine is enduring severe aggression” from Russia, adding that
“we are also experiencing hybrid attacks, which may precede military assaults. “
Why is EU-Ukraine defence integration now a priority?
“To stop Putin, we need to produce more, we need to innovate more, and we need to do that
together in the European Union and with Ukraine,”
Kubilius informed government officials and industry delegates in Brussels.
While addressing a defence industry forum, Kubilius announced that a task force between the EU and Ukraine would meet for the first time on Monday. “to assist the integration of our defence industries, to facilitate the development of joint projects or joint procurement processes”.
The commissioner, previously a prime minister of Lithuania, noted that Europe can draw lessons from Ukraine’s innovative sectors, highlighting progress in drones and artificial intelligence.
“In the future, when Europe will need to take the whole responsibility for the defence of the European continent, Ukraine will be the most important part of the new European security architecture,”
He said.
Should frozen Russian funds support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts?
A few days ago, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius to discuss military cooperation and Ukraine’s request for the confiscation of frozen Russian assets.
In a statement, Shmyhal mentioned that the discussions covered Ukraine’s defence requirements, options for increasing military-industrial collaboration, and initiatives to strengthen Kyiv’s defence capabilities.
“We are grateful to the EU for its important military support,”
Shmyhal said, stressing that frozen Russian assets should be used to “strengthen our state.” He noted that Ukraine and the EU also talked about “concrete steps to make Russia pay,” relating to damages from the ongoing conflict.
The European Commission has consistently supported utilising profits from frozen Russian central bank assets to assist Ukraine. However, the issue of complete confiscation is still a matter of legal and political discussion among EU member states.
Is Europe acting fast enough to counter Russian threats?
Moreover, At the start of April, Andrius Kubilius stated that Russia is constructing its war machine “at a dizzying pace.
“He emphasised the need for Europe to shift from mere concern to action, asserting that the Commission “is taking the measures that these dangerous times demand.”
The commissioner referenced a recent warning from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who stated that within three months, Russia manufactures more ammunition than all NATO member countries combined, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and all EU nations. Consequently, he argued that “Putin could be tempted to use that power to test NATO, and the danger is real.”
