"We are not doing enough": the European Commission called for making the Ukrainian defense industry part of the European one

The European Commission has put forward a proposal to integrate the Ukrainian defense sector into the European system, emphasizing the need to consider it as an important component of the pan-European defense infrastructure. The European Union should take practical steps toward this initiative.

This statement was made by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. She said this on Tuesday in Strasbourg at the European Parliament session during a key debate on the need for unwavering support for Ukraine after two years of Russian aggression.

"We must not only speed up the delivery of ammunition to Ukraine. When we look to the future, we have to think about Ukrainian defense capabilities as part of our defense capabilities. We have to think of the Ukrainian defense industry as part of our own defense industry," Ursula von der Leyen said.

In this context, she noted that the European Union has included Ukraine in the formation of the European Strategy for Defense Production. This step is aimed at ensuring Ukraine's integration into several European defense initiatives, taking into account the need for prior agreement with the European Parliament and the European Council.

According to the EC President, this will ensure compatibility and joint planning between our military and defense industries.

"Ukraine is a future member of our European Union. Therefore, it should become much closer to us in the defense sector," she stated.

She emphasized that now is a historic moment when the European Union must stand up for Ukraine and secure the future for all European countries.

This means that it is time to take care of Ukraine's recovery, and our security commitments and strengthen the international security system to prevent any future aggression. Von der Leyen called on the EU to continue to support Ukraine in all possible ways.

The President of the European Commission noted that the EU countries are actively supporting Ukraine, in particular, they have already provided training for more than 40 thousand Ukrainian servicemen. The efforts of the European Union and its members have helped to attract 28 billion euros for the supply of military equipment to Ukraine. The EU defense industry has significantly expanded its ammunition production capabilities, so European countries plan to deliver more than 500,000 artillery shells to Ukraine next month and more than a million more by the end of this year.

"A lot has been done, but it is certainly not enough," von der Leyen summarized.

As a reminder, the European Council supported the plan under the Ukraine Facility program to provide the EU with a record economic assistance to Ukraine of EUR 50 billion over 4 years, provided that Ukraine implements a number of reforms.

Earlier it was reported that the United States plans to double the production of 155-mm artillery shells used in Ukraine by October 2024. However, to achieve this goal, Congress will need to approve a bill to help Ukraine.

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