EU Defence Chief Calls for Arms Stockpile Sharing to Support Ukraine
Europe is losing arms race and must abandon ‘haute couture’ missiles, EU defence chief warns

Image: The Irish Times
Andrius Kubilius, the EU's defence chief, emphasizes the need for European countries to share arms stockpiles with Ukraine and shift towards more scalable, cost-effective weapons production to keep pace with Russia. He warns that Europe's current focus on sophisticated weapons is hindering its military support capabilities.
- 01Andrius Kubilius advocates for opening arms stockpiles to supply Ukraine and enhance military production.
- 02He criticizes Europe's focus on 'haute couture' weapons, which are expensive and hard to scale.
- 03Ukraine is set to produce around 700 of its own cruise missiles, while the EU produces fewer than 300.
- 04A €60 billion weapons fund from a €90 billion loan could facilitate arms purchases from EU stockpiles.
- 05Planned EU reforms aim to create a more integrated defence market and streamline procurement processes.
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Andrius Kubilius, the European Union's defence commissioner, has urged member states to share their arms stockpiles with Ukraine and to transition from producing sophisticated, expensive weapons to more scalable and cost-effective systems. He highlighted that Europe is falling behind in missile production compared to Russia and Ukraine, with the latter producing 700 of its own cruise missiles, while the EU manages fewer than 300. Kubilius emphasized that strengthening Ukraine's military is essential, especially as discussions for peace negotiations with Russia gain traction. He proposed that a €60 billion fund, part of a larger €90 billion loan, could be utilized to purchase arms from EU stockpiles, allowing countries to reinvest in their own production. The EU is also preparing to introduce initiatives to enhance defence production and reduce market fragmentation, addressing the barriers that currently limit cross-border cooperation in the defence sector. Kubilius advocates for consolidation within the industry to foster competitiveness on a global scale.
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The call for arms stockpile sharing and production reform could significantly enhance Ukraine's military capabilities and reshape Europe's defence industry.
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