Europe urged to boost defence as Russia eyes 2028 test
Intelligence services – as stated by the EU's chief diplomat Kaja Kallas – warn of a possible Russian attack starting in 2028. "Russia can test the European Union's defence readiness in three to five years," said the former Prime Minister of Estonia during an event organized by the European Defence Agency in Brussels.
Kallas emphasized the need for the European Union to dedicate resources to war prevention and preparedness. She stressed that neglecting investment in Europe's military strength sends a perilous message to potential aggressors, as weakness only emboldens them. Her remarks were reported by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).
Ukraine gives Europe time
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) notes that US President Donald Trump is correct in criticizing Europe's insufficient defence spending. In the previous year, EU member states allocated an average of 1.9% of their GDP to defence, in contrast to Russia's 9%.
Kallas did not provide details about Russia's possible plans but expressed the opinion that Ukraine, by conducting a defensive war against Russia, still gives the EU time.
Regarding EU support for Ukraine, Kallas announced that she is currently working on the 16th sanction package against Russia and intends to push for more efficient use of frozen Russian assets to benefit Ukraine. The value of military aid provided by EU countries so far is estimated at almost 71 billion Canadian dollars. She also added that 75,000 Ukrainian soldiers will be trained by the end of next month.
"Realist" on Russia
In her speech at the annual conference of the European Defence Agency (EDA), Kallas emphasized that the Russian economy operates in wartime mode, and the Kremlin allocates one-third of its budget to armaments – three times more than before the war. "And there's no end to this situation in sight," she added.
Kallas, a strong advocate of a strict policy toward Russia, stated that she is not a "hawk" but a "realist" about Russia. She stressed that the Union has tried for too long to offer Moscow alternatives, hoping they would choose cooperation and prosperity, but Russia is focused on imperial ambitions and increased military production.
According to her assessment, Russia can produce more weapons and ammunition in three months than the EU can in a year, which is why the Union must strengthen its defence capabilities.
