War in Ukraine: EU spending “must increase”, UN worried about escalation… update on the situation

EU spending 'must increase'

The European Union must do more to compete with Moscow's defense spending, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed before the European Parliament on Wednesday in Strasbourg.

EU defense spending “must increase”she insisted. “Russia spends up to 9% of its GDP on defense. Europe spends on average 1.9%. There is something wrong with this equation”she said, presenting her new team to MEPs.

The UN worries about an “escalation” of the war

A senior UN official expressed concern Wednesday about a “new escalation” of the war in Ukraine, calling on the parties to refrain from actions and speeches risking further intensifying the conflict which has lasted for almost three years. “In recent days, we have seen alarming signs of a further escalation of this already explosive war”declared the Under-Secretary-General for Europe before the Security Council.

Miroslav Jenca particularly cited Russia's use of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (up to 5,500 km) which reached the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Russia justified the use of this new missile as a “answer” to recent Ukrainian attacks against its territory with American and British missiles. On Tuesday, she promised news “answer” to two new Ukrainian strikes using American ATACMS missiles. “The United Nations does not have additional details on these events, including the type of weapons used. But the use of ballistic missiles and threats are a dangerous development toward escalation.”commented Miroslav Jenca.

“We call on all parties to take immediate steps toward de-escalation and to refrain from any actions or rhetoric that could further escalate this war” et “seriously endanger regional and international peace and security”he added, repeating that the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was a blatant violation of international law.

Baltic, Nordic countries and Poland ready to “expand sanctions against Russia”

The Baltic and Nordic countries and Poland are ready to strengthen, with their allies, sanctions against Russia and the states which support its invasion of Ukraine, they declared on Wednesday during a summit in Sweden. “Together with our allies, we are determined to strengthen our deterrence and defense […] against conventional and hybrid attacks, and to strengthen sanctions against Russia and those who favor aggression by Russia, thus threatening our common security”, write the seven signatory countries (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Estonia, Poland) in a joint press release.

Lithuania did not participate in this summit, its government being in the process of being formed. “Western sanctions are working despite Russian propaganda, the Russian economy is sinking into an imbalance between increasing war spending and the rest of the economy is struggling”said the Swedish Prime Minister during a press conference in Harpsund, Sweden.

The seven countries, bordering or close to Russia and members of NATO, also undertake to “strengthen (their) support” to Ukraine “particularly to the Ukrainian defense industry, and will invest to make more munitions available to Ukraine”. They recall that they are the largest contributors to military aid per capita to Ukraine.

“Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security”Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a separate statement, at a time when European countries are worried about Donald Trump's promise to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours.

Several of the signatory countries regularly blame Russia for these “hybrid attacks” targeting them, the latest episode being the rupture of two submarine cables in the Baltic Sea. Sweden has opened an investigation into sabotage and is investigating the role of a Chinese ship.