"If Europe wants to exist in peace, it must switch to a military economy regime and significantly strengthen its defense capabilities in the face of the threat posed by Russia."
This was stated by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in an article published in several European newspapers, "Kyiv Independent" reported.
Michel argued that US support can no longer be taken for granted and that EU countries must take responsibility for their own security as they grapple with the biggest security challenge since World War II.
"If we don't get the right response from the EU and provide enough support to Ukraine to stop Russia, we are next. So we must be ready for defense and move to a war economy mode," he wrote.
"Russia is a serious military threat to our European continent and to global security. If we don't get the right EU response and give Ukraine enough support to stop Russia, we are next," he added.
"If we want peace, we must prepare for war," the president of the European Council also wrote.
Michel has criticized the decades-long lack of funding and investment in Europe's militaries, and although military production capacity has increased by 50% since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, much more needs to be done.
"As we strengthen our defense capacity, we must ensure that Ukraine gets what it needs on the battlefield. Ukrainian soldiers urgently need bullets, missiles and air defense systems to control the skies. We must use the European budget , to buy military equipment for Ukraine, and to use the windfall from Russia's frozen assets to buy weapons for Ukraine," Michel added./BGNES
