Key facts
- European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius believes Ukraine's battlefield successes should lead to peace negotiations.
- Kubilius cited Ukraine's deep strikes against Russian vessels and energy infrastructure as key achievements.
- He noted that some EU countries are reducing their loan requests for the €150 billion SAFE defense program due to fiscal concerns.
- Poland secured the largest loan from the SAFE program, valued at around €43 billion.
- Kubilius addressed Donald Trump's comments on Greenland, reaffirming EU support for Denmark and the need to manage emotional political statements.
European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius stated that Ukraine's recent battlefield successes, particularly targeting Russian maritime vessels and energy infrastructure, have positioned Kyiv strongly and should compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate peace.
In an interview with Euronews, Kubilius highlighted Ukraine's achievements over the past six months, suggesting these deep strikes demonstrate to Putin that his war aims are unattainable. He believes this situation should prompt genuine negotiations for a just peace.
The European Union is supporting Ukraine through a €90 billion loan, with €60 billion allocated for defense. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently visited Kyiv and announced a drone deal.
Kubilius expressed regret that some countries are scaling back their initial ambitions for the EU's €150 billion defense loan program, known as Security Action for Europe (SAFE), citing fiscal constraints. This program is part of the EU's broader effort to rearm by 2030, a date identified by security agencies as a potential period of increased foreign aggression.
While 19 countries have had their loan agreements endorsed, some are revising their proposals. Kubilius noted that caution in accepting funds is often due to fiscal limitations. Poland received the largest SAFE loan, approximately €43 billion. The Baltic states—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—have secured a combined €12 billion, with a focus on drone and anti-drone capabilities.
Responding to remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding Greenland, Kubilius affirmed Denmark's position and stated the EU must learn to manage "emotional" public statements. He added that while each country decides its procurement, the EU prefers member states to use SAFE loans for European defense products.