Media reports said as much as $700 billion could be allocated to Europe's defenses, though it was not clear how much of that amount would go to Kyiv.

Summary

European officials are preparing a multibillion-dollar defense package to bolster regional security and support Ukraine, announced by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Munich Security Conference.

The package, potentially valued up to 700 billion euros, will fund military training, arms deliveries, and security guarantees amid concerns over Russian aggression and diminishing U.S. contributions to NATO.

The move follows calls for Europe to boost its own defense spending while U.S.-Russian talks, which exclude Ukraine and Europe, on ending the Ukraine conflict continue.

  • hermanvonhinten@lemm.eeEnglish
    569·
    2 days ago

    I don’t get why the EU still wants to maintain its confrontation mode? Wouldn’t it be better to just find peaceful solutions for the future?

    • perestroika@lemm.eeEnglish
      31·
      2 days ago

      I think the reason is: because the EU has seen nothing good coming recently from Trump’s or Putin’s mouth.

      • Putin’s previous record is that he poisons opposition figures, attacks countries and attempts to conquer them. He has not resigned from the goal of controlling Ukraine yet, so there is no reason to come out of war mode - and indeed, perhaps going deeper into war mode will make him willing to let go.

      • Trump’s previous record is that he makes a mess where he goes, has previously obstructed military assistance to Ukraine multiple times. On his best days, he behaves like a protection racket.

      Those two are currently negotiating “behind the shed” somewhere.

      What EU is doing, is putting together a contingency plan for a possible outcome: Trump helping reach an agreement which Ukraine cannot accept, and US support to Ukraine ceasing to flow.

      In that case, the EU must move enough military resources to replace the US. The package volume (0.7 US defense budgets, in addition to EU countries’ individual defense budgets) indicates that it’s a “replace the US” package.

    • null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      281·
      2 days ago

      That’s not really how global politics and diplomacy works.

      If the only “peaceful solution” Russia will accept is the surrender of Ukraine, what do you expect them to do?

      Having a well provisioned and trained standing army also encourages your opponents to seek peaceful solutions.

      • Bloomcole@lemmy.worldEnglish
        416·
        2 days ago

        The Russians couldn’t care less that Europe has an army.
        Or even their US masters.
        There is a problem when they expand NATO with possibly nukes in Ukraine, too close to defend from.
        That is a red line, and was known since forever.
        And when you lose a war you negotiate surrender.
        They are always reasonable and will be OK with a safety buffer. NATO can do what they want with the rest.

    • bstix@feddit.dkEnglish
      12·
      2 days ago

      Sure, it would be better with a peaceful solution: Russia should stop attacking and pay for the damage they’ve already done.

      The solution proposed by Putin and Trump is not peaceful.

    • ours@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      2 days ago

      Would it be better? Yes! Is it possible? That would depend on Russia and they don’t seem very eager.

      As for Ukraine coinciding chunks of their country, it was tried before (Crimia) and the result was Russia getting overconfident and trying to grab the whole country. Sadly sometimes use of force is the only way. Hopefully, this increase will lead to forcing Russian to negotiate for peace.

    • notsoshaihulud@lemmy.worldEnglish
      31·
      2 days ago

      Because of this:

      Every single European country with a shared border with Russia has mandatory military service (that red exception on the map is Latvia, which also reinstated it in 2024). This is how much Russia is trusted.