Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Russia spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said decision of increasing defence spending made by the European Union is very short-sighted and harmful to all EU citizens.
Speaking during a briefing to journalists, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that.
“the growth in defence spending is already pulling the European economy into a pretty serious zone of discomfort. It is clear that a further increase in spending will have a very negative impact and will lead to a further deterioration of the economy in Europe.”
Peskov said the U.S. should stop backing Kyiv
“and thereby contribute to the end of the conflict ”
during a discussion of the war in Ukraine.
Why does Russia oppose the EU’s defence spending increase?
Russian officials have consistently viewed the EU’s ramping up of defence spending as a direct response to its military actions, particularly in Ukraine. This perception fuels narratives within Russia that the West is encroaching on its sphere of influence and preparing for potential military confrontation.
How does the EU prioritise its defence strategy?
It was on February 3, 2025, at the very first dedicated defence summit in Brussels, that EU leaders laid out their plans to bolster European defence capabilities against all threats, including Russian ones. The EU leaders agreed on the necessity to significantly raise defence budgets across member states.
The European Commission estimated an additional $510 billion would be required by the next decade to fill critical gaps in military capabilities. Currently, the average defence spending in EU countries is 1.9% of GDP, but this figure is expected to rise as nations respond to security challenges.
The summit focused on identifying and addressing specific capability gaps, including air and missile defence, ammunition production, and military transport.
