Russia Warns of Increased Militarisation in Europe as EU President Plans New Defence Union
Russian officials have raised concerns about the growing militarisation of the European Union as EU President Ursula von der Leyen has unveiled plans for a new defence union. Von der Leyen, who was reelected to a second term in office, outlined her vision for a European Defence Union to address crossborder threats, starting with initiatives like a European Air Shield and cyber defence. The proposal has been met with criticism from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who accused the EU of escalating tensions and relying on confrontational methods in its foreign policy. Peskov emphasized that Russia does not pose a threat to the EU but expressed frustration with the lack of dialogue and consideration of Russian concerns by EU member states, particularly regarding the situation in Ukraine.
During her reelection bid, von der Leyen emphasized the importance of security and a strong Europe amidst a period of uncertainty. She pledged support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for engaging in what she described as an appeasement mission during a visit to Moscow. Von der Leyen also announced plans to address Europe's housing crisis, strengthen the EU's border agency Frontex, and combat disinformation with the creation of a new commissioner focused on this issue. As the leader of the conservative European People's Party, von der Leyen will be forming her next cabinet of commissioners to tackle various policy challenges at the EU level.
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