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·
    5 months 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?

    • null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      291·
      5 months 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
        418·
        5 months 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·
      5 months 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·
      5 months 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·
      5 months 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.