MOSCOW, 16 February EU in the development of defense industry in the short term will focus on continuing to provide Ukraine with weapons, the Financial Times reports, citing the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
«The short-term «critical emphasis» of revitalizing the defense industry will be on continuing to supply Ukraine with weapons,» the publication said.
It is noted that the EU defense development strategy will be based on already existing pilot programs, for example, the fund to support joint purchases of military equipment launched last year.
Russia previously sent a note to NATO countries over arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that NATO countries are “playing with fire” by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov noted that pumping Ukraine up with weapons from the West does not contribute to the success of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect. Lavrov stated that the United States and NATO are directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, “including not only the supply of weapons, but also the training of personnel… in the territory of Great Britain, Germany, Italy, and other countries.”