The war in Ukraine restrains Russian military aggression and provides Europe with critical time to bolster its defenses. Any cessation of hostilities without strict limitations on the Kremlin will increase the threat to NATO’s eastern flank.
German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, stated this in an interview with Tagesspiegel. Ischinger emphasized that the war’s outcome determines the future of Germany and the entire continent. Currently, Vladimir Putin’s army remains tied down by the conflict, losing thousands of troops weekly. However, a ceasefire would allow the Kremlin to rearm without interference.
“Ukraine gives us time to build a credible deterrence system,” Ischinger noted.
European Defense Strategy
The diplomat criticized the slow expansion of Western arms production. He called for a consolidated European defense market to replace the current fragmented system. While the United States operates approximately 30 heavy weapons systems, Europe maintains 180. Ischinger urged the EU to replace the unanimity principle with majority voting in foreign policy to ensure faster decision-making.
If all 27 EU member states cannot reach an agreement, Ischinger suggests forming a “pioneer group” to move forward independently. He considers France and Poland essential to this coalition. Additionally, the Baltic states, Finland, Sweden, and the Benelux countries could join this initiative to enhance regional security.
The prospect of sustained US military support remains uncertain. Before Donald Trump’s return to the White House a year ago, the US administration steadily increased pressure on the Kremlin through G7 sanctions. Now, the burden of supporting Ukraine falls increasingly on European nations. The upcoming Munich Security Conference begins on February 13, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to attend.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that 14 European countries are blocking Russia’s shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea to curb oil revenues. Furthermore, the European Commission recently introduced the 20th sanctions package to deepen Moscow’s economic isolation during the full-scale invasion.
