- Category
- Latest news
Ukraine Is Europe’s Front Line and Merits Greater Defense Investment, EU Commissioner Says
- Authors
![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
European defense support for Ukraine over the past three years of war has totaled approximately EUR 52 to 54 billion, compared to slightly over EUR 60 billion from the United States, which accounts for less than 0.1% of their GDP, said European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Lithuanian Andrius Kubilius on July 10.
Speaking at the panel discussion "No Security – No Recovery" organized by the Pinchuk Foundation and YES during the URC2025 conference in Rome, Kubilius said, “When the NATO summit just concluded, and all European member states, as well as NATO member countries, pledged to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP,” Kubilius started.
“I don’t understand such military logic from our side,” Commissioner stated.
He continued, highlighting the disparity between European defense investments and those made to support Ukraine: “When we understand that Ukraine is defending us, as the front line, as the first line of our defense, we still do not invest in their defense as much as we invest in our own defense,” he said.
“Logic tells us we need to do much more to support Ukraine’s defense,” Andrius continued.
Kubilius also reminded the audience that the European Union had established an attractive regulatory framework for so-called security loans amounting to EUR 150 billion, enabling European governments to take out these loans for joint procurement with Ukraine, from Ukraine, and for Ukraine.
“I would like to hear tomorrow, when prime ministers and ministers talk about our support for Ukraine’s reconstruction at the URC2025 conference, that they are clearly committed to taking these loans,” Kubilius added.
During the discussion about the benefits of Ukraine’s EU membership, Kubilius advised considering Ukraine’s defense achievements, as well as its progress in new technologies and military industry.
“I understand that on the European continent, there are only two armies... And when German intelligence services predict that Russia may be ready to test us, to test our equipment in three to five years, with its army that has gone through combat trials and, in my view, is stronger than at the start of the war, I can say that it would be a huge mistake for us not to integrate Ukraine as soon as possible into our community,” Kubilius argued.
“Because in doing so, we would have another battle-tested army on our side, capable of using millions of drones and with a highly developed defense industry.”
Kubilius, who represents Lithuania, concluded that integrating Ukraine into European structures is crucial for bolstering collective defense and ensuring long-term security
Earlier, global leaders gathered in Rome to unveil Marshall Plan–style recovery for Ukraine.
-0158b6b681e3668f470de36aedad9e3c.jpg "Russian Su-24 bomber moments before Ukrainian drone strike, Crimea. (Source: HUR)")
