A few days ago, the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, urgently warned the European Parliament of a growing direct threat from Russia. At the same time, she appealed to the international community to increase its support for Ukraine (-> Latest news from the war in Ukraine). As The Guardian reports, citing European Pravda, Kallas called in particular for faster implementation of the new NATO target of 5 percent of GDP for defense spending.
Russia is already waging a hybrid war against the EU
Kallas spoke of a large number of hybrid measures with which Russia is already actively taking action against EU states – including airspace violations, military maneuvers near EU borders, attacks on critical infrastructure and the recruitment of criminals for acts of sabotage.
“Last year, Russia spent more on defense than the entire European Union combined,” said Kallas. “This year, Russia is investing more in the military than in healthcare, education and social services combined. This is not a coincidence, but a long-term plan for a long-term war.”
Ukraine as Europe’s first line of defense
Against this backdrop, she described Ukraine as “Europe’s first line of defense” and emphasized the importance of existing and future sanctions against Moscow. At the same time, she called for sustained military and economic support for Kiev.
“We must do more for Ukraine – also for our own security,” said Kallas. She quoted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte as saying: “If we don’t continue to help Ukraine, we should all start learning Russian.”
