The leaders of eight European countries agreed on Tuesday that the defense of the eastern border with Russia must be an “immediate priority” for the European Union. TASR informs about it according to the report of the AFP agency and the press statement of the Swedish government.
- The leaders of the eight EU countries emphasized the need to defend the EU’s eastern border.
- According to the Finnish prime minister, Russia represents a direct and long-term threat to Europe.
- Support should include combat capabilities, infrastructure protection and mobility.
Prioritizing the east wing
“The situation calls for the immediate prioritization of the EU’s eastern flank through a coordinated and multi-domain operational approach,” reads the declaration from the EU’s eastern flank summit, signed by the prime ministers of Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Lithuania.
According to the prime ministers, strengthening the defense of the eastern wing should include ground combat potential, defense against drones, anti-aircraft and missile defense, protection of borders and critical infrastructure, or military mobility.
“Russia remains a threat to all of Europe today, tomorrow and in the foreseeable future,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told journalists at a press conference. “Russia is the most significant, direct and long-term threat to our security, peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area,” confirmed his words in a joint declaration by the leaders of the eight EU countries.
Prime Ministers: The Russian threat affects the entire continent
“Russia’s strategic goal remains unchanged: to create a buffer zone stretching from the Arctic region through the Baltic and Black Sea to the Mediterranean. The eastern flank of the EU and NATO is at the forefront of this threat, but the threat concerns the entire continent,” the prime ministers say.
In the statement, the leaders also mention Russian “hybrid operations, sabotage and attempts to destabilize our societies”. “We stand firmly with Ukraine in its efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace and remain committed to increasing our assistance to Ukraine. We will continue to work closely with our partners targeted by Russia’s hybrid activities, particularly with the Republic of Moldova,” the leaders wrote, adding that “their security contributes to our security.”
