The European Union's leadership has announced a plan on Tuesday to attract the continent's collective defense, significantly increasing the military costs, a few hours after President Trump said suspension of all its military aid To Ukraine.
“We are in the era of cutting premises,” said the President of the European Commission Ursul von der Leyen on Tuesday, announcing the plan – called “Rear Europe” – which, according to her, will allow European countries to access an equivalent of $ 840 billion to spend.
One way to do this by allowing EU countries to spend more on protection without causing EU mechanisms against budget deficit, said von der Leyen. Another way will be at the expense of EU loans worth about $ 158 billion for EU member states.
“This will help the state -member states to supply and buy together,” said von der Leyen. “With this state -member equipment, the member can enhance massively their support to Ukraine… This approach of joint procurement will also reduce costs, reduce fragmentation, increase interaction and strengthen our protection industrial base. “
Yves Herman / Reuters
Von der Leyen also suggested using the EU's collective budget to help increase protection costs and mobilize private capital.
The announcement takes place 48 hours before the scheduled summit of EU executives, where the proposals will be discussed by von der Leyen.
“Europe is ready to take on its duties,” said von der Leyen. “We will continue to cooperate closely with our NATO partners. This is a moment for Europe. And we're ready to step up.”
NATO is not consulted in the course of Trump, Poland says
European leaders woke up from the news that Mr. Trump rejected all military assistance Ukraine Without a pre -report, a press secretary of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday Powl Vronsky.
Vuronski told reporters, Mr. Trump decided “without notice and consultation” its allies by NATOAdding: “This is a very important solution, and the situation is very serious.”
Ireland leader Michael Martin called this step Trump “a serious failure” to achieve peace, emphasizing that the Ukrainians “showed extraordinary stability, extraordinary courage in terms of meeting with illegal invasion.”
“Europe is also very conscious that there are many other states that are afraid of Russian aggression and Russian ambitions across Europe, and these countries see it as an existential threat to their sovereignty,” Martin said. “The European Union is very, very aware of this, and this is what motivates the European Union in its constant support for Ukraine because it is a broader European issue.”
Czech Prime Minister Peter Fila said Europe “could not allow Russian aggressive policy that threatens all of us to succeed. The era relies on others to solve major international problems on our behalf. Now it is a time for Europe to move the racist from words to action.”
Will Trump's step “encourage Putin to ask for more”?
Mr. Trump's decision to suspend US military assistance in Ukraine “will encourage Putin to ask for more than Ukrainian demilitarization and neutrality,” Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director General of the Royal Institute of the United Services, predicted on Tuesday.
Chalmers said the “nightmare scenario” will be a peaceful deal for the US and Russia, “and then say Ukraine and Europe” accept it or leave it. “
Recent estimates show that only about 20% of military equipment supplied to Ukraine is with the US, and 25% is provided by Europe and the rest of the world, and 55% is produced in Ukraine, Chalmers said. But 20%provided by the United States, “the most deadly and important”.
“What is considered the most is how far the UK and Europe are ready to help Ukraine contrary to the US,” Chalmers said. “Ukraine will not collapse (without US military assistance) – last year they have already survived the shutdown, but the effect will be combined.”