Russia can be stopped only by EU-Ukraine alliance - EU Commissioner for Defense
Photo: Andrius Kubilius (Getty Images)
Europe and Ukraine need to innovate more and integrate their defense industries more to stop Putin, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius says.
This is partly because there will come a time when Europe will have to take full responsibility for its defense, he said, referring to the projected withdrawal of US troops.
"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 said.
Today is the first time the EU-Ukraine task force will meet, Kubilius told the defense industry forum.
Its goal is "to assist integration of our defence industries, to facilitate development of joint projects or joint procurement processes," he commented.
Doubling aid
Earlier, Andrius Kubilius said that the US and EU annually allocate about 40 billion euros for military aid to Ukraine. However, according to him, these funds can be used more efficiently by investing them in the purchase of weapons directly from Ukrainian manufacturers.
"Our support’s real value would rise to €80B," he said.
According to him, the cost of weapons produced in Ukraine is about half that of similar weapons from the EU or the United States. This will make it possible to double the amount of weapons provided to Ukraine without increasing costs.
In May, Andrius Kubilius visited Kyiv to discuss the EU's next steps to strengthen military support for Ukraine, integrate defense industries, and learn from Ukraine's successful experience.
