Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has changed the geopolitical environment in which we operate, accelerating the emergence of a multipolar landscape marked by heightened instability and greater use of force, as well as rising polarisation and fragmentation. The tragic events in Israel and the Palestinian territories, and the serious risk of regional spill-over, only reinforce this assessment.
In October, I gathered the EU foreign ministers in Kyiv for the first-ever Foreign Affairs Council in a non-EU country and the first in a country at war. This was a strong message of solidarity and support to Ukraine and a strong message that we will stand with Ukraine until a just and sustainable peace is achieved. Unfortunately Russia’s brutal attacks continue relentlessly.
The EU and its Member States urgently need to strengthen their defence capacities, as well as to strengthen the European defence industry. What we have done to support Ukraine are steps in this direction.
First-ever joint EU live military drill
Through the European Peace Facility (EPF) we provided, in a closely coordinated way, substantial support in terms of military equipment and ammunition. This support is now comparable in size to that of the United States. We also continue to support Ukraine with the EU Military Assistance Mission Ukraine (EUMAM). Next year, we aim to reach a total of 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers trained on EU soil.
We have also taken steps towards the common purchase of ammunition. Nine contracts were signed with different companies for the acquisition of ammunition, or ammunition components, and seven countries have placed orders for 155mm ammunition via the joint acquisition procedure set up by EDA.
I have proposed we top up the EPF with a dedicated fund to support the defence of Ukraine over the next four years.
But defence collaboration is not just about Ukraine. In recent years we have become painfully aware that European security is in danger. We live in a world of multiple threats and challenges, with failing states on our borders and instability never far away. Part of our response, as agreed in the Strategic Compass of March 2022, is the creation of a new rapid reaction force to respond to crises outside the EU.
In October 2023, we tested our future Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC) through LIVEX, the first-ever joint EU live military exercise, near Cadiz in Spain. The exercise mobilised 2,800 soldiers from nine EU countries, assisted by six ships, helicopters and two jets. Such exercises contribute to improving the interoperability between our forces and we plan to organise them on a regular basis.