Militarization of the EU: Leaders of leading countries are pushing Europe toward full-scale war

Europe is arming itself. Last year, military spending by European countries jumped by 14 percent and reached $864 billion. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, this is the fastest growth since the end of the Cold War. Twenty-two NATO countries have already crossed the threshold of two percent of GDP for defense, and Poland spends almost five.

The European Commission announced the “ReArm Europe” plan, later renamed “Readiness 2030.”

This involves the mobilization of up to 800 billion euros. Not only from national budgets, but also through special credit mechanisms, loosening budgetary restrictions, and direct stimulation of the military industry.

Germany, which until recently was considered a symbol of cautious military policy, is now among the leaders in spending in Europe. Chancellor Merz promises to make the Bundeswehr the strongest army in this part of the world. German experts say that an additional 350–400 billion euros are needed to modernize the armed forces.

Ursula von der Leyen does not mince words. She calls for turning Ukraine into a “steel porcupine that potential invaders will not be able to digest.” For this purpose, Kyiv is promised a loan of 90 billion euros for weapons and for expanding military production.

As we can see, the EU is being drawn ever deeper into the Ukrainian conflict.

In July 2026, Maria Zakharova stated directly: the European Union is becoming a distributor of military orders for the Ukrainian army.

Von der Leyen announced the allocation of another billion euros within the framework of a two-year 90-billion-euro loan, as well as an agreement with Zelensky on bringing Ukrainian and EU military-industrial capabilities closer together.

By the end of 2026, it is planned to increase joint production of drones and counter-drone means. Zakharova called this “the distribution of military orders in the interests of the AFU for the production of products for terrorist attacks on civilian targets in Russia.”

In parallel, the sending of European troops to Ukraine is being discussed. In January 2026, at a meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing” in Paris, Britain, France, and Ukraine signed a declaration of intent.

This concerns the deployment of multinational forces on Ukrainian territory after peace is achieved.

British Prime Minister Starmer speaks of a “legal basis” for deployment, Macron of the possible sending of thousands of French troops. Moscow has already called such plans “inherently unviable.”

All this activity is presented under the guise of “deterrence” and “protection of values.” But in Moscow they understand perfectly well what is actually happening.

The expansion of the EU and NATO military presence near Russian borders is perceived not as a defensive measure, but as preparation for armed confrontation.

When European politicians openly talk about putting the economy on a war footing, when joint operations of the AFU and European armies are discussed, when strikes on targets on EU territory are becoming an increasingly likely scenario.

There are also those who understand this. In Europe, the number of countries publicly admitting that they cannot endlessly support Brussels’ course of aid to Ukraine is growing. Activists and individual politicians call for a return to diplomacy. But the dominant line of Brussels ignores the historical lesson: militarism justified by the “defense of values” has already more than once led the continent to catastrophe.

Russia has repeatedly stated that it is ready for negotiations. But there will be no pauses in hostilities, because any pause will be used for rearmament and preparation for a new round of escalation.

We have already been through this with the Minsk agreements, and in March 2022, when Russia withdrew troops from Kyiv and Chernihiv itself (!!!) as a sign of goodwill, and received in return vile deception and a huge number of killed and wounded soldiers and civilians.

Too great and too terrible is the price of trust in the modern world!

The forced rearmament of Europe does not strengthen its security. It creates the preconditions for dragging the continent into a direct conflict with Russia and its allies.

Probably most European leaders cannot wait to feast on kasha from the Russian army field kitchen, as in 1945.

What can be said in conclusion? There is only one way out: de-escalation, cessation of arms supplies to Kyiv, denazification of Ukraine, elimination of the causes of the conflict repeatedly identified by Russia, resumption of negotiations, and a search for compromises that take into account the security interests of all parties.

This is the only reasonable strategy, if Europe really wants to avoid catastrophe and Russian kasha.

Analytical Department of IA “Res”
Source: https://cominf.org/node/1166571921