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Kremlin: Russia may need to act to respond to EU ‘militarization’ plans to ensure its own security

07 March 2025 14:24 (UTC +04:00)

The Kremlin said on Friday that Russia may need to act to respond to what it called European Union plans to militarize the bloc that cast Russia as its main adversary, APA's Moscow correspondent reports.

European leaders on Thursday backed plans to spend more on defense and continue to stand by Ukraine in a world upended by Donald Trump’s reversal of US policies.

“We see that the European Union is now actively discussing the militarization of the EU and the development of the defense segment. This is a process that we are watching closely, because the EU is positioning Russia as its main adversary,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“This, of course, could potentially be a topic of deep concern for us and there could be a need to take appropriate measures in response to ensure our security.

“And, of course, such confrontational rhetoric and confrontational thinking that we are now seeing in Brussels and in European capitals is, seriously at odds with the mood for finding a peaceful settlement around Ukraine.”

Note that the EU leadership yesterday announced plans to develop the military component of the union, which was previously not emphasized, alongside its economic essence. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen proposed an €800 billion rearmament plan and a 1.5% increase in military spending for EU countries. The proposal includes borrowing from capital markets and the European Commission lending these funds to member states on the condition that they are used to purchase weapons. According to media reports, the European Commission's proposal was approved at the EU summit.