Warsaw, 3 April 2025
On 3 April, the Foreign Affairs Council met in its Defence configuration at the Warsaw Citadel to discuss the rearmament of Europe and support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. EU ministers also debated the European Commission’s White Paper on European Defence.
The meeting was chaired by Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polish deputy prime minister and minister of defence.
Continued support for Ukraine
Both the European Union and its member states have supported Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s illegal invasion. Poland has frequently spearheaded this effort, in its political, humanitarian and military dimension. The ministers have agreed that this is not the time to cease supporting Ukraine, indeed the fact that Ukraine was able to defend itself for so long was in large part due to European contributions.
Now that peace seems achievable, it was debated how to best support Ukraine so that it can achieve a just peace through strength, preserving the values that the European Union also embraces.
Furthermore, it was recognized that the support afforded by Europe will have to be long-term, including after signing a peace agreement, to deter any future invasions and maintain both Ukrainian and European security. This would have to include not just material support of various kinds, but also security guarantees, in a form that is best fit for purpose.
Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov joined remotely, and NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska attended this session.
New approach to security
Rearmament of the European Union and reinvigorating the EU’s defence industries has been a matter of a broad, far-reaching debate, and the Foreign Affairs Council with ministers of defence is an important forum to continue these talks. The aims and timelines for this ambitious project were discussed, with participants mindful of the necessary financial and political obligations, and of the urgency of the undertaking.
Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said:
The White Paper for European Defence outlines a clear path forward. It includes up to 800 billion euros for defence, pooling resources for joint projects and closer cooperation also with partners. Filling critical capability gaps like drones, air defence, artificial intelligence, cyber security must be priority.
Various plans were proposed, including sharing burdens among member states in a manner similar to COVID relief efforts. Key elements of European defence, like Polish „Eastern Shield”, and how they integrate into a broader institutional landscape of the EU. The prevailing sentiment was that shared actions and common approaches are needed.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence of Poland, said:
The Eastern Shield is a strategic project for the European Union, guaranteeing its security. All these activities, investments, fortifications, drone and anti-drone systems, measures facilitating the mobility of own troops, hindering the mobility of enemy troops, protecting the population and supporting allied armies, are a priority for the European Union.
Source – Polish EU Presidency
Informal Foreign Affairs Council Defence: Remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas after the meeting
Warsaw, 3 April 2025
Check against delivery!
Thank you dear Władysław [Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of National Defence].
Thank you for hosting us here in Warsaw today. Thank you for last night’s dinner. Everybody was very happy with the event.
We have just concluded a productive meeting of European Union Defence Ministers, and I would like to share some points with you dear journalists.
First, on Ukraine.
Europe, the United States and, most of all, Ukraine want this war to end. It has been nearly four weeks [since] Ukraine agreed to [an] unconditional ceasefire.
Since then, Russia has stalled attempts to reach a peaceful resolution.
To end the war, we must strengthen our support for Ukraine. We all agree on this. And I am pleased to see that following our ongoing discussions several European Union Member States have made new pledges in recent days.
France has announced an additional €2 billion in support; Germany has committed up to €12 billion for the next years and Sweden has pledged €1.4 billion in military aid.
These contributions are not just numbers, the money will save lives. We see Russia bombing Ukraine every day, and every day, also people lose their lives.
On the European Union’s side, we are prioritising providing 2 million rounds of artillery ammunition for Ukraine this year, as requested by President Zelenskyy.
This is both realistic, but it is also achievable. We can do this together will all the European allies.
And today’s discussions have helped refine our plans.
Ministers also discussed how the European Union can support security guarantees for Ukraine alongside the coalition of the willing.
The European Union has many tools at its disposal, from funding Ukraine’s defence industry to expanding training programs for Ukrainian soldiers and also tightening sanctions that put pressure on Russia – because the strongest security guarantee is a strong Ukrainian military.
We also discussed the Europeans’ own defence. Russia will remain a long-term threat to the European Union, no matter the outcome of its war in Ukraine. So, strengthening Europe’s own defence capabilities is also crucial.
The best way to prevent a war is to be unmistakably ready to win one.
The White Paper on Defence outlines a clear path forward. It includes freeing up to €800 billion for defence, pooling resources for joint [defence] projects, and deepening cooperation with partners.
Filling critical capability gaps, like drones, air defence, Artificial Intelligence, [or] cyber security, must be a priority.
NATO, of course, remains the cornerstone of our collective defence, and enhancing European capabilities will further strengthen NATO’s alliance.
On Friday, that is tomorrow, NATO’s Foreign Ministers will hold their first ever dedicated session on European defence.
I look forward to briefing them also on these efforts, on what we have agreed on among European Union’s Members.
Because today’s security challenges are too big for any country or organisation to tackle alone. We have to do this together; we are much stronger together.
Thank you again, dear Władysław, for hosting us today.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-269739
Q&A
I would like a follow-up on these 2 million ammunitions rounds for Ukraine. Before you were saying that you have different proposals and different countries that are offering to participate in this. Could you please elaborate? You were talking about over 50%: is it going to be over 50% after today’s discussions?
The important thing is that Ukraine gets the ammunition and gets it very fast. We had the discussions inside the room on what different countries are delivering. Some have issues with putting these under this initiative, but I do not mind. I think it is important that Ukraine gets the help they need. President Zelenskyy has said they need 2 million rounds; it is around €5 billion. And countries are stepping up, like I say, coming [up] with €2 billion from France, €12 billion [from Germany]. It is of course over [the span of] some years. There were other countries inside the room who were saying that they would also put this money into the use of Ukraine and the sums, but I will let them announce it themselves. I think it is fair like this. It is important, [because] if we count those contributions in, then we are able to do these 2 million rounds in a the short term – and that is important. That is what Ukraine needs.
Are you surprised it has taken the Council so long to deal with this? When would you like to see this implemented?
Would I like it to be faster? Yes, but we are 27 democracies, and it is quite a complicated structure. Coming from Estonia, where things took less time. But before that, I was in private practise, and I can tell things were much faster there. So, the frustration, personally, is that things take time, but democracy takes time, and we actually have to have these thorough discussions, so we have everybody on board. When we start them, it is clear what we have agreed on. So yes, on our side we are of course pushing things to go faster, but we cannot compromise also on the debates that actually add value to the proposals.
Is Secretary Rubio’s message that all EU NATO members need to be part of a path to spending 5% GDP on defence realistic? And the second question, were there any recent changes in EC EU funding for the internet satellite for Ukraine? There was a recommendation in the White Paper, but my question is: has any increase happened already?
Of course, we have been in the meeting, so I have just gotten the information of the statements. I think it is positive what the [US] Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, that US is with NATO and is not planning to leave NATO or anything. So, they are strong allies, and they are there – like they have been for 75 years before.
On the second message – that European allies should spend more – that has been a long call of the American leadership, to spend more and also shoulder much more burden on the European side. What is positive is that we have actually heard that message and we are doing more. There are countries who are planning to spend 5%, but it is also important that everybody hits the targets that we have set so far.
It is clear that we are in this very difficult situation where we need to spend more on defence. I would not focus so much on the numbers but on the capabilities that we talked about today as well. What more we can do together, how we see defence, regionally, so that we cooperate because it is not a national [issue] anymore. It is about protecting and defending Europe. So that is why we have proposed the White Paper on how to move forward. But the question is on implementation, and of course the investments done there are also contributing to the national targets which are increasing the overall defence spending for Europe. So, I think it is important that Europe does more, and the United States has been very clear about this. Countries like Poland, or the Baltic states have really invested, but not all the European countries. I think this call is very clear [on the fact] that we need to do more, and we have heard that message, too.
On the satellite, it is clear that all these defence capabilities are linked to the satellites. Today we also discussed how we develop our capabilities in this regard [so] that there are no dependencies. But [about] clear commitments when it comes to monetary contributions, I cannot say that right now. It is clear that the need is there, and we need to do more so that we have the capabilities like satellite connections.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-270320
Source – EEAS
The High Level Conference – EU Security Forum in Warsaw
Warsaw, 2 April 2025
The High Level Conference – EU Security Forum put a spotlight on European defence, with two panels on developing and financing defence capabilities and speeches from NATO and Ukraine representatives.
Deputy prime minister – Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz delivered the opening remarks.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Defence of Poland, said:
What is most important for me as the Minister of National Defence of Poland? Recognizing the Eastern Shield as a strategic European defence project, strengthening NATO’s eastern flank and the EU’s border in connection with the Baltic Defence Line and fortifications on the Finnish-Russian border.
‘Together, these elements create a genuine barrier, comprising various types of fortifications, drone and anti-drone systems, which we will be able to utilize.’ – added Polish Deputy Prime Minister.
Presenting the White Paper
After the minister’s opening remarks, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius briefly introduced the aims and contents of the White Paper on the Future of European Defence.
Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, said
The White Paper makes it clear that we must step up our military support for Ukraine – with artillery, ammunition, air defence, and much more. We shall also work to integrate the European Union and Ukrainian defence industries.
The Commissioner discussed the challenges that lie ahead and the proposals for addressing them. This served as a base for the rest of the day’s discussions.
Discussing European defence
What followed were two panels – the first one on development of the European Union’s defence capabilities and the second one on financing them. The first panel featured, aside from the Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak – Kamysz, Siemtje Möller, Parliamentary State Secretary, DEU Federal Ministry of Defence; Lt.Gen. Michiel van der Laan, Director of the EU Military Staff , as well as Maj.Gen. André Denk, Deputy Executive Director European Defence Agency Executive. Together, they discussed what would the most effective measures be, and the threats and obstacles on the path. Each panelist shared their perspective and their experiences, with the discussion informed by the White Paper’s contents.
The second panel focused on financing European defence, featuring Paweł Karbownik, the Polish Deputy Minister of Finance, Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss, Managing Director for CSDP and Crisis Response at the European External Action Service, and Camille Grand from the European Council on Foreign Relations. The possible avenues of funding defensive efforts were discussed, minding both the Union’s rules aimed at maintaining fiscal responsibility and the urgency of the moment.
Other perspectives
Rustem Umerov, Defence Minister of Ukraine, delivered his remarks via an online video call and answer questions from the audience. He spoke of partnership with the EU in its goal to increase the responsibility for its defence, and shared his own insights. Lastly, the Chair of the Committee on Security and Defence in European Parliament, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, gave a closing presentation on how the subject of the conference presents itself from a foreign policy and institutional perspective.
Article: EU Security Forum
Event page: Informal meeting of defence ministers 2-3/4
Speech by EU Commissioner Kubilius in Warsaw at the High Level Conference – EU Security Forum on the White Paper on the Future of European Defence
Warsaw, 2 April 2025
“Check against delivery”
Your excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,
It’s an honour to be here as Europe’s first ever Commissioner for Defence and Space.
This is my first official visit to Poland as Commissioner at a time when Poland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, when Poland is leading the European Union. At a time when Security and Defence are top priorities of the Presidency, of Poland and the EU. And just two weeks after the European Commission presented historic proposals for the defence and security of Europe. Proposals to radically scale up and speed up defence spending and production.
And Warsaw is one of the first European capitals I visit to present these initiatives because of the great leadership Poland is showing on Defence.
There’s a quote I like to use – I admit I did not think it up myself: “450 million EU citizens should not have to depend on 340 million Americans to defend ourselves against 140 million Russians who can’t defeat 38 million Ukrainians.”
The inspiration for this quote comes from Poland. A Polish expert in foreign policy said it before me, called Zbigniew Pisarski. And Prime Minister Donald Tusk also said it before me. I thank them both for their inspiration.
Because it shows a clear and simple truth: If we unite as Europe, and mobilise our economic might, we need to fear no aggressor.
And I thank Poland for your inspiring leadership on defence. Poland has one of the strongest defence industries in Europe , on land, on sea and in the air – and in space. Making land vehicles of all types, naval vessels, communication systems, radar systems, anti-aircraft and missile defence. And perhaps the jewel in the crown: the aerospace sector. Aircraft, components, and simulators.
Poland is showing Europe the way forward on defence.
This year, in 2025, Poland will spend 4.7 per cent of its GDP on defence. And Poland is planning to double its military to half a million soldiers. More countries should follow the Polish example. And you are scaling up your industry right here in Poland. Because you know: defence industry is not a normal industry, but a resource for defence that needs to be close to crisis zones and front lines.
And to scale up your defence you are buying Polish. For example, the “Borsuk” fighting vehicle you are developing – a Polish fighting vehicle. And again you are showing the right example.
Buying Polish means buying European.
We want to build up a European defence industry right here in the European Union. And the time for action is now.
Not only Ukraine is under attack – we all are under attack already now: hybrid attacks are increasing; Disinformation; Attacks on Baltic sea cables; Arson – here in Poland; Weaponisation of migrants – at the EU border in the east, in Poland, but also Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland.
If we do nothing, military attacks could soon follow these hybrid attacks. Russia is producing weapons on a massive scale. In three months, Russia makes more weapons than all NATO Members in one year.
Soon, Putin could be tempted to use that military power. Intelligence services report: Russia is getting ready to challenge NATO article 5 by 2030. In five years or less Russia could be willing and able to attack one or more EU countries.
As Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “To prevent war, we must prepare for war”. We must reach a state of readiness that will deter Putin.
That’s why the European Commission presented two initiatives two weeks ago to massively increase defence spending and to ramp up defence production.
First. The “Readiness 2030” plan. And second, the White Paper on European defence.
The White Paper has several priorities.
To start with: defending Ukraine. By defending Ukraine, we are defending Europe. Since the Russian invasion, we have supported Ukraine with 50 billion euro in military aid alone. That’s a lot – but annually it’s less than 0.1% of our GDP. We can and must do more. The White Paper sends a very clear and strong signal: Ukraine’s security and the European Union’s security is one and the same. Ukraine’s defence is an integral part of European defence; European defence is an integral part of Ukraine’s defence. The White Paper makes clear we must step up our military support for Ukraine with artillery, ammunition, air defence and much more.
By teaming up with Member States, Ukraine and Ukrainian defence industry can benefit from the new SAFE programme – 150 billion euro in loans backed by the EU budget. And we’ll integrate the EU and Ukrainian defence industry. Integration will help Ukraine to scale up, modernize and step up production. And integration will benefit European industry and our Member States because Ukraine produces modern weapons and equipment at much lower prices. And because we can learn a lot from Ukraine. Ukraine’s defence industry is young and dynamic. And it was tested in the battlefield and is leading in innovation, when it comes to artificial Intelligence, when it comes to drones.
Besides defending Ukraine the implementation of the White Paper will boost the defence of Europe.
First: with a surge in defence spending, to make it possible for Member States to reach 3.5% of GDP for defence spending. Because many Member States are far from Poland’s level. The average is two per cent.
Second: we must close capability gaps. Not only for the wars of today, but also for the wars of tomorrow. We lack thousands of tanks, armoured vehicles and pieces of artillery and high tech defence equipment. We need to close the gaps:
- First, by doing more of the same: Massive production of what we are already producing.
- On top of that: Develop strategic enablers– like strategic airlift, air to air refueling or space assets.
- Implement big defence projects of common European interest: like the air defence shield, or Eastern-Northern border defence shield.
- And we must improve military mobility. It’s no good to have a tank if you can’t get it to the battlefield. Weapons need to move quickly to where they are needed.
- Also we must be ready to defend all EU borders: land, air, maritime. And in particularly the EU Eastern border.
- The project for an Eastern Border Shield is an example of a defence project of Common European interest, which would strengthen the EU’s external land border with Russia and Belarus against military and hybrid threats and would include the mixture of physical barriers, infrastructure development and modern surveillance systems.
Third, we will strengthen Europe’s Defence Industrial Base. By removing obstacles, through simplification. By reducing bureaucracy. Bureaucracy should be no obstacle to a surge in defence production. We must overcome fragmentation and push for more European investment, collaborative procurement.
We must invest in a European defence industry. Defence is no normal industry but a resource for defence. With as dividend, – security.
To protect our EU borders, we must build up an EU defence industry inside those borders, close to those borders.
And we must learn from Ukraine’s defence industry surge: A real Big Bang from 1 billion euro production capacity in 2022 to 35 billion euro production capacity last year.
A Big Bang of 35 times!!!
We want to build a defence industry right here in Europe. So European tax payer money creates European jobs right here in Europe, and Polish jobs right here in Poland.
A massive surge in defence production will mean massive investment for industry, will bring innovation, big opportunities for businesses big and small. And big benefits for our regions and local communities.
And will bring jobs, jobs, jobs.
From now on our priority is: Implementation, implementation, implementation.
Putin will not be deterred if we just read the White Paper to him. He will only be deterred if we turn the White Paper into action. If we use it to build very real drones, tanks, artillery for our defence.
To show Putin: we have the political will, the economic power and defence capabilities to deter aggression.
To implement the White Paper, to build up a European defence industry, we need to spend much more on defence.
We also put forward proposals to rapidly scale up defence spending: Readiness 2030.
A potential 800 billion euro extra for the next four years.
First, up to 650 billion euro by allowing Member States greater fiscal flexibility by excluding 1.5 per cent of GDP from the deficit calculation.
Second, The SAFE proposal (Security Action for Europe): 150 billion in attractive loans backed by the EU budget to be spent on seven priority areas of military investment: Air and missile defence, drone and anti-drone systems, military mobility and more.
Member States can spend that 650 billion euro of their funds in Europe and around the globe.
And SAFE loans can be spent abroad too, as long as our like-minded partners conclude Security and Defense partnerships with us.
Let me also say what doesn’t change: The Member States are responsible for defence. Poland decides how much to spend on defence. Poland decides what to buy for defence. The European Union offers support, EU coordination, EU laws, EU money.
Member States lose not a fraction of sovereignty. The opposite is true. They will be better able to defend their territory.
What also doesn’t change: the European Union is our economic powerhouse.
NATO with Member States is there for military defence. NATO together with Member States makes military plans and also sets capability targets.
The EU brings added value: budgetary, industrial and regulatory clout. In order to assist Member States in achieving defence readiness.
No single Member State alone can stand up against Russia. But together we can. The European Union is the biggest single market in the world. And NATO is the largest defensive military alliance in the world.
The EU economy is many times larger than the Russian economy. Together we can outspend and outproduce and outmatch Russia. But then we need to unite and show solidarity.
Solidarity is our most important value, the foundation of the European Union. There’s no better place to speak about solidarity than Poland, the birthplace of solidarity – Solidarność. I am old enough to remember when it started. When Solidarność started, it was the beginning of the end of communism and the Soviet Union. As Lech Walesa said: “The fall of the Berlin Wall makes for nice pictures. But it all started in the Shipyards.” And Solidarność was the beginning of everything we have today: EU Membership, NATO Membership, our freedom and prosperity.
And it is my mission to make clear in Europe: Our defence is based on solidarity and on the principle of collective defence: If one country does not invest in their own defence, it weakens all others in their defence.
An attack on one of us, is an attack on all of us. Even if the soldiers don’t cross your own border. Even if the bombs do not hit your own countries, your own homes. They target all of us. They target our way of life.
If the storm comes, no-one will escape the devastation. But we can still prevent catastrophe. We can still deter Russian aggression, prevent war and preserve peace.
So here in Poland let’s start again a solidarity movement. A European solidarity movement to build up our defence industry. And our defence. Together in our European Union and with NATO.
There’s no better place to start, than right here in Poland.
Source – EU Commission