The European Union is reportedly working on a multi-billion-euro defense package to support Ukraine’s war effort, with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock hinting at the sheer scale of the upcoming package, suggesting it could be worth around $732.2 billion (€700 billion), German media Berliner Zeitung reported on February 18.
However, EU leaders recognize the sensitivity of the plan. According to Bloomberg, the spending initiative will only be announced after Germany’s regional elections on February 23 to avoid controversy before the vote.
Select European heads of state met in Paris on Monday to coordinate their response after U.S. officials urged Europe to take concrete action.
“We will launch a large package, the likes of which we have never seen before,” Baerbock told Bloomberg during the Munich Security Conference.
“Just as we had a financial package for the euro crisis or COVID-19, we now need one for European security. This will happen soon.”
Speaking on Bloomberg Television, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene stressed that Europe must prepare for a dramatic shift in its security landscape:
“Realization that it’s not the U.S. which will defend Europe, but Europe defending ourselves with help from the U.S. means we will all have to move fast, Germany included,” he said.
Baerbock added that peace can only be achieved through strength, stating that “this requires hard and long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, a strong NATO, and progress in Ukraine’s EU accession talks.”
“As Europeans and as Germans, we stand firmly with Ukraine—militarily, humanitarianly, and financially. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, we, Europeans, have provided over $140.16 billion (€134 billion) in aid to Ukraine, with Germany contributing nearly $46 billion (€44 billion) alone.”
Baerbock further stressed that Europe’s unity is its greatest strength, stating:
“Despite our differences, we move forward together—from Paris to Munich. As Europeans, we must take greater responsibility for our own security. Given the existential threat we face, a major collective effort is required to safeguard our peace and prosperity.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also made it clear that Europe’s response to Trump’s stance will be increased military spending.
“If we, Europeans, fail to spend big on defense now, we will be forced to spend 10 times more if we don’t prevent a wider war. As the Polish PM, I’m entitled to say it loud and clear, since Poland already spends almost 5% of its GDP on defense. And we will continue to do so,” Tusk wrote on X.
Arriving in Paris, von der Leyen echoed this urgency, writing that “we need an emergency mindset” and “we must reinforce defense now.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced support for an EU emergency mechanism that would allow massive increases in defense spending—a proposal pushed by von der Leyen at the Munich Security Conference last week.
Under this plan, EU nations would be exempt from debt and deficit limits when financing military expenditures. This marks a fundamental shift in EU financial policy, as such exemptions have previously been impossible under EU rules.
The new multi-billion-euro defense package could be financed through joint EU debt, similar to the COVID-19 recovery fund.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte declared that Europe is ready to take the lead in providing security guarantees for Ukraine following an “emergency summit” in Paris.
Excellent news. Please make sure the money stays in Europe and is used to make and supply weapons from European manufacturers.
It’s good; if they expedite this immediately.
It should have been done and dusted in late 2021, when putler’s horde of vermin was uncoiling in preparation for genocide.
I have read it is ready now. They are waiting until the week after the German election to give out the details. The Kremlin are already whining like fuck about it.
Ukraine will know for sure that a putler-trumpkov trap is being sprung.
Fox has reported that russia and the U.S. have proposed a three-step peace plan, which includes a ceasefire, elections in Ukraine, and the signing of a final agreement.
Are trumputler going to insist that the “election” takes place on occupied territory? That’s going to legitimize and consolidate putinaZi control and put immense pressure on the result. Millions of voters there; mainly putlerists.
Let’s say the election is in free Ukraine only. What will that achieve?
Likely a victory for Zel or Zal. But likely a reduced majority and possibly a comeback for Boyko or even Medvedchuk.
This will create the instability that the rat nazi wants.
The only response to an imposed election in Ukraine is to insist on one in ruZZia in free and fair conditions.
But that of course is impossible in a nazi dictatorship.
More nasty rat traps are likely being prepped up by the filth and scum of putlerstan.
Seeing that russia already claimed Donbas and other regions as russian. No elections can take place there anyway.
This is why it’s a trap. If Ukraine calls an election under such circumstances, the putinaZis can say that by excluding the occupied territories they are handing them over to putler control.
If they insist it takes place in the occupied territories also, there is no way that a free and fair election can be held.
The putinaZis have found yet another method of sewing chaos.
I don’t think an election can take place unless and until the war is definitively concluded, with all the security guarantees that Ukraine needs.
Ukraine have to control any elections in occupied territories. That is never going to happen.
An election is not allowed during martial law, according to Ukrainian law.
It appears the US and the orcs have come up with a 3 point plan. Ceasefire, Ukrainian elections, then signing a final agreement.
I hope that Kyiv won’t have an election just to satisfy those two cocksuckers, Trump and Vladolf.
Seeing that Lavrov today claimed that Ukraine will never get the occupied territories back, he can’t demand Ukrainian elections in them. He kinda shot himself in the foot.
I think even he doesn’t believe what he’s saying if he knows anything about what’s going on in his trash army.