During a recent address to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Vilnius, European Commissioner for Defense, Andrius Kubilius, highlighted Ukraine’s growing success on the battlefield and its implications for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategy. Kubilius stated that as Ukraine continues to achieve military victories, Putin’s reactions become increasingly desperate, aiming to instill fear in the region and diminish European support for Ukraine.
Kubilius emphasized the need for Europe to respond by enhancing defense spending and production, particularly in light of the diminishing role of the United States in European defense. He pointed out the absence of a unified defense market within the European Union, with many governments opting to procure military supplies from national companies without open tenders.
“Russia still outproduces the European Union, which poses a significant risk,” Kubilius noted. He urged national parliaments to question their governments about the stagnation of their defense industries despite increased funding. As a case in point, he cited Ukraine’s defense production, which has reportedly increased fifty-fold since 2022, reaching levels comparable to the annual output of Germany or France.
Kubilius remarked on the competitive and innovative environment within Ukraine’s defense sector, contrasting it with the lack of competition and industrial scaling within Europe. He underscored the necessity of advancing Ukraine’s membership in the European Defense Union, a concept aimed at fostering closer coordination of defense among European nations, while Ukraine’s NATO membership remains unresolved and its EU accession may take longer.
“Ukraine possesses one of the best armies in Europe, if not the world,” Kubilius stated, stressing the importance of integrating Ukraine into the European security framework as a vital interest for Europe.
On May 25, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced plans to target decision-making centers and command posts in Kyiv, warning foreign nationals, including diplomatic staff, to leave the city promptly. In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry assessed that the overall security threat level from Russia remains consistent with previous years, dismissing the new threats as blatant intimidation. The ministry expressed readiness to enhance security for foreign diplomatic missions upon request.
Subsequently, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had personally warned about the dangers of Kyiv during a phone conversation, although Rubio noted that Kyiv has been a dangerous place for several years. He reiterated the U.S. commitment to mediating the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
During a UN Security Council meeting on May 28, the United States criticized Russia’s threats and called for restraint regarding the promised systematic strikes on Kyiv.
The European Commissioner for Defense, Andrius Kubilius, has outlined Ukraine's increasing military successes and the corresponding urgency for European nations to bolster their defense efforts. Amidst Russian threats, he emphasized the need for a unified defense strategy and highlighted Ukraine's significant advancements in defense production.