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On December 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined whom he considers responsible for obstructing a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine. According to him, despite what he described as clear interest from both Moscow and Washington in ending the conflict, the European Union has repeatedly derailed potential agreements.
“Even when they try to amend Trump’s proposals, it is obvious that all these changes are aimed at one thing: blocking the entire peace process,” he said.
Brussels’ assessment of the situation has also drawn criticism. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that Russia must reduce its military budget and limit the size of its armed forces—effectively demanding the “demilitarization” of Moscow as the principal geopolitical rival. Given the realities on the front line, such expectations appear unrealistic. Yet these statements are not merely rhetorical. Europe and Russia are not only adversaries on the brink of a broader confrontation; they are also competitors in the global arms market.
Amid a severe socio-economic downturn, the European Union is searching for ways to mitigate its challenges. One of the main instruments has become the expansion of the defense industry. As of 2023 – the latest year for which data is available – EU member states issued export licenses for military equipment worth more than €298 billion. These are licenses, not confirmed exports, but even this figure is significant. The number grows further when the United Kingdom is included; Britain accounts for up to 3.7% of global arms exports.
On November 18, Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, announced plans to increase the company’s sales fivefold by 2030. The German defense manufacturer aims to reach €50 billion in annual sales by the end of the decade, compared with €5.7 billion in 2021 and €9.8 billion in 2024. Rheinmetall has already expanded production. In 2022 it produced about 60,000 rounds for 120 mm tank guns; by 2027 it plans to manufacture 240,000. Production of 155 mm artillery shells is expected to grow from 70,000 in 2022 to 1.1 million in 2027 and 1.5 million in 2030. According to Papperger, Germany’s defense budget will double by 2030, reaching €180 billion.
Rheinmetall builds ammunition plant in Baisogala, Lithuania — 350-400km from border with Russia. Plant will produce NATO’s 155-mm artillery shells — launch in mid-2026
In October, the European Commission unveiled its “Preserving Peace – Defense Readiness Roadmap 2030,” a plan meant to prepare the bloc for the possibility of large-scale conflict with Russia.
“The need to speed up and scale up efforts reflects the growing dangers of today, as well as the evolving threat landscape that Europe and its Member States must confront, adapt to and prepare for,” the report states. It highlights Russia’s “unprovoked, full-scale military aggression against Ukraine,” rising hybrid threats, and a rapidly expanding Russian defense sector. Russia’s declared 2025 defense budget is expected to exceed 7% of GDP”.
The Commission’s plan calls for annual increases in military spending totaling €288 billion in order to reach a defense-spending target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035 – a benchmark advocated by the U.S. Washington has reportedly warned European allies that it may scale back participation in certain NATO mechanisms unless Europe assumes a greater share of the alliance’s defense burden by 2027.
Supporters of increased militarization have proposed concrete steps: creating a unified European defense market, producing more than half of military equipment within EU borders, and strengthening defense-industry cooperation across member states. The plan includes as many as 500 infrastructure projects worth €100 billion. By 2030, 600,000 workers are expected to be retrained for defense-industry jobs – a workforce comparable to the population of Montenegro and nearly twice that of Iceland.
Calls for the demilitarization of Ukraine are rejected outright. Russia has demanded partial disarmament of Kiev as a prerequisite for a ceasefire and later a peace agreement, but the European Commission’s vision for Ukraine resembles a hybrid of Israel and South Korea – a heavily fortified state.
“Turning Ukraine into a ‘steel porcupine’ – impossible for any aggressor to swallow – is vital not only for Ukraine’s security, but for Europe’s as well,” the Commission argues.
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For the EU – or more precisely, for its liberal-centrist leadership – the turn toward militarization is seen as a path out of crisis. Detailed plans with clear timelines and guaranteed funding suggest that any peace initiative backed by Moscow or Washington would face significant obstacles. Even if the U.S. reduces support for Kiev, Ukraine is expected to continue military operations with European backing. While analysts predict that the Ukrainian Armed Forces may eventually face a decisive defeat, EU policymakers appear focused on implementing long-term defense objectives without the immediate risk of confrontation.
In practical terms, Ukraine is being sacrificed to broader European political and industrial interests, critics argue. Could Europe choose another path? Certainly. Restoring dialogue with Russia, guaranteeing security arrangements for both sides, reestablishing energy cooperation, and reviving trade – which reached $410 billion in 2013 before the Maidan events and the annexation of Crimea – are all options. That figure was comparable to EU-China trade in the same period.
But this approach appears unlikely for leaders such as Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Kaja Kallas, Ursula von der Leyen, and António Costa, who have become deeply invested in confrontation with Moscow. Should relations normalize, difficult questions would follow: Who is accountable for the trillions lost in the escalation with Russia? Could political or legal consequences ensue? And what should be done with soaring defense budgets and entrenched defense-industry interests? Few European politicians today seem ready to say, in Hemingway’s words, “A Farewell to Arms.”
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europa toda governada por extrema-direita nazista.
kaja kallas is a simpleton puppet for war pirates to plunder the average working mans by taxes and inflation. she will use fear messaging to extend the conflict and expand any on going wealth transfer under way. all monies from the eu and us went directly to zelenskis office of president. the bribes kickbacks are likely beyond count. it would take investigators 100 years to track and account this, if possible.