Russia has criticized the EU's plans to increase defence spending as a short-sighted and destructive policy.
Keystone-SDA
04.02.2025, 14:03
SDA
According to Russian news agencies, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that a militaristic course dominates in the EU, in which arms investments are increased under the pretext of a threat from Russia. "It is clear that further increases in spending will have a very, very negative impact and will lead to a further deterioration of the economic situation in Europe, which will affect every European," he said.
As an alternative, Peskov suggested that the EU enter into a dialog with Russia, taking into account Moscow's security interests. According to estimates by the EU Commission, additional defense investments of around 500 billion euros will be required over the next ten years.
Trump's proposal for aid to Ukraine also criticized
Peskov also criticized a proposal by US President Donald Trump that Ukraine could hand over its mineral resources such as rare earths to the United States - in return for further US military aid. "This is a proposal to buy help," he said, adding that it was a commercial deal. "Of course, it would be better not to give any aid at all - and thus enable an end to the conflict."
Last October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi offered to mine strategic raw materials together with Western partners as part of his "victory plan". Previously, Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham had proposed granting US aid in exchange for raw materials.