Foreign Affairs Council (Defence): Press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival
We start the week with the Defence Ministers' meeting.
First, we have the European Defence Agency Steering Board, where we discuss the EU defence readiness report. As you recall, this was required by the leaders to present such a report. What it shows? It shows the things that we have already done. We have done a lot. The investment in defence has increased, but at the same time, we have big defence capability gaps, and now we should focus on how we actually fill those gaps.
Then we discuss our support to Ukraine. As you have seen, there have been attacks again on civilians. So, Ukraine urgently needs air defence. We are making this plea again that those who have them in stock - how they can give it to Ukraine, so that the Patriot missiles that are produced then later on will be filling their stocks. Clearly, now we have the EPF finally unblocked. There is also the [€] 1 billion that goes to joint procurement because we really need to push Member States to work together. Also, those Member States who have funds to receive, many have already declared that they will give it to Ukraine.
Q&A
Q. [inaudible]
Yes, we will discuss the hybrid attacks in the EU and actually the broader strategy against the hybrid attacks. We will propose also the emergency [security] protocol. So, everything that is under the threshold of armed aggression, how we can operate together with the European Commission, Member States, as well as the External Action Service. What are the tools that we can use on different levels? We will propose that, and we will also discuss that.
Q. One way to support Ukraine is also to increase pressure on Russia. Just last week the EU delisted two oligarchs from the sanctions list. How does that [inaudible]? Does this create a dangerous precedent?
It is regrettable that it was the decision, but we need to work on that and actually concentrate on the positive side, which is that 2,998 sanctioned people will be sanctioned for three years, and now it is the opposite. So, to get them out, you need everybody on board, not that extension would require everybody’s approval. So let us focus on that, and we definitely need to increase the pressure, like you say. We are putting forward more listings targeting their military-industrial complex, also targeting their finances of Russia because we want this war to stop.
Q. [inaudible]
Yes, we are working on the listings right now. Everything and everybody that the Member States are proposing, we need to go through whether these are solid cases that we can also propose that they will be held up in court if they are scrutinised. So that is why it takes time.
Q. High Representative, can you please give your honest opinion: is Europe prepared if there is an attack tomorrow by Russia? And we have heard some reports that secret services are saying that it is an ongoing threat and might be a believable scenario. What do you think and can you give us your honest opinion on this?
It is important to understand that we have done more to be more resilient. Member States are spending 2.2 % of their GDP in total for defence, so that is also acting as a deterrent. But we need to be vigilant because we see in the intelligence that Russia is planning more sabotage acts and actually attacks against our democracy to divide our society, to intimidate our societies from refraining to help Ukraine. So, this is something that they have in mind, and we have to keep this in mind as well to be standing up to these threats. Also, when we have intelligence, to be already able to react before these attacks have actually taken place.
Q. What about US weapons, High Representative? You say that Ukraine needs more air defence, but it is becoming more and more difficult to access weapons from the US due to delays. How concerned are you about that?
We are concerned of the production in general because everybody needs more air defence. When we look at the Middle East, when we look at Ukraine, it is very clear that everybody needs more, and we do not have that in the stockpiles. Some countries have. That is why also the plea to put these stockpiles into use now and then produce later. Also, the good signals that were there about licensing, also the production elsewhere - I think this is extremely important because the need for air defence is very high.
Q. Have you been briefed on these counter-terrorism arrests in the United Kingdom, very near the American airbase? Because people are saying one line of inquiry may be Iranian or Russian.
Let us wait for British officials to announce the investigation result and then attribute who could be behind.
Q. Have you been in touch with your British counterpart?
Not yet.