Today at 🇪🇺Defence ministers’ meeting in Nicosia 🇨🇾
We discussed continued support for 🇺🇦 w the Ukraine Support Loan, further cooperation of 🇪🇺🇺🇦 industry, also addressed European Security Strategy & in particular maritime security.
Thanks @CY2026EU for hosting our discussions.
Europe needs national Parliaments also to answer - how do we build a post cold war NATO 3.0?
How we are going to make the European Pillar of NATO stronger?
In order to make our transatlantic NATO stronger.
How to achieve Single Defence Market in the EU?
1/
Ukrainian integration into 🇪🇺 will define the strategic future of the EU and of the whole European continent, especially its Eastern part, including future of Russia and Belarus. 1/
European defence needs not only financial & industrial, but also intellectual “big bang”.
It was a real “big bang” of ideas & suggestions on European Defence Single Market, European Defence Union, European Security Council, Ukraine, etc. 1/
Belgium is taking national and European security seriously.
Today we signed the #SAFE loan agreement with Belgium 🇧🇪!
SAFE is European solidarity in practice. Concrete support, backed by the European budget, for Belgian defence and for collective #EUDefence🇪🇺.
The night attacks against Kyiv show weakness of Putin, not a strength.
History shows: when Kremlin regime is losing, it becomes desperate. And then it collapses.
https://t.co/9w219kV31p
Today we sign 1st #SAFE agreement - w Poland.
With 43.7 bln € 🇵🇱 starts the biggest security 'project' in Europe.
We are moving fast to help 🇪🇺 Member States jointly develop & scale up their defence capabilities & production.
SAFE loans will help outproduce & deter Russia.
We are taking measures to counter the growing threat of drone warfare and to strengthen EU and UA security and defence.
Applications are now open for founding members of a new EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance.
➡️https://t.co/wvFqk28k93
#StandWithUkraine
Europe can learn much from Ukraine.
Why not build a Ukrainian TAIEX-style service to support 🇪🇺 & candidate countries?
A European Defence Union with Ukraine could follow.
Enlargement is in the interest of the EU - helps build a Europe that is free, whole, and at peace.
Today in 🇩🇪 engaging in detailed discussions with @BMVg_Bundeswehr &🇪🇺 missiles producers - Diehl Defence and @MBDADeutschland
Our immeadte & longterm goal - 🇪🇺#DefenceReadiness & support for 🇺🇦
Ramp-up is possible&is happening, but more efforts needed at 🇪🇺 &national level
Continuing visits to the European defence industry to encourage meeting demand in 🇪🇺 and 🇺🇦
With @MBDAItalia discussed the preconditions for scaling up missile production, ensuring timely delivery, & addressing Ukraine’s needs
European producers have a unique chance for growth
I had a warm meeting with leader of Democratic Belarus @Tsihanouskaya.
The future of a democratic Belarus is bound to the European Union, to stability and long-term peace in our region, and to the future of prospering democracies in our Eastern neighbourhood.
"Here you can also see all the best products. Everything is Ukrainian."
In the office of the EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius @KubiliusA, there are models of Ukrainian military equipment: FPV drones, Magura sea drones, the long-range Liutyi drone, a 155mm artillery shell, and the Flamingo cruise missile.
There are also souvenirs, such as a vase decorated with traditional Petrykivka painting, made from an artillery shell.
📹: Radio Liberty
Great discussion on European Security Council and future of European defence at #CEPSLab2026 w President Sauli @niinisto, who leads special @CEPS_thinktank Task Force on the European pillar for NATO. Glad to see we have similar views on most of the ideas!
The best thing is for Ukraine and Belarus to be members of the European Union. I do not know whether the Belarusian people support this, but from the point of view of the economy, geopolitics, and independence – it is the right thing.
People in Belarus are smart. It is simply anti-European propaganda that has been working there for many years that spreads only one-sided narratives: that there would supposedly be restrictions on their business and development in Belarus, that prices would be high and salaries would be low, that people would be beggars. All this is simply propaganda. But of course, EU membership will be Belarusians' own choice.
If there is free leadership that gives them freedom and respects Ukraine’s independence, we will confidently respect Belarus’s independence. The best thing that can be is peaceful relations, when we respect each other’s sovereignty and missiles do not fly from one country to another.
I would very much like the war to end and something to change in relations between our countries. After all, the Belarusian people did not start the war against Ukraine. I think this is the wisest choice or status in which Belarusians should remain.
From an interview with the Belarusian independent media outlet “Dzerkalo.” 5/5
Getting ready for the missile tour!
Today I hosted a roundtable of European defence industry representatives. The industry is readying to ramp-up, indicating bottlenecks & importance of long term contracts.
🇺🇦 heroes in the front can not wait, we need to deliver super fast!
Ukraine is fighting the war of freedom. They are defending Europe.
🇪🇺 will provide 90 bln EUR loan for 🇺🇦.
With Minister @FedorovMykhailo we discussed today the defence needs to be financed.
We are ready to move fast and meet Ukraine’s expectations.
The EU 🇪🇺 aims to speek with a united voice.
We have clear values, and we defend them.
We have our long term strategy, and we implement it no matter what others say.
We seek European Strength.
@BBCWorld
No time to wait! We are moving ahead with 🇪🇺defence funding for #DefenceReadiness
After detailed analysis, today @EU_Commission approved 8 MSs #SAFE national plans for €38 bln of funding
Next steps: other 11 MSs plans, Council decisions, loan agreements & 15% funding release!
I had a call with new 🇺🇦Defence Minister @FedorovMykhailo
I am sure 🇺🇦will win, 🇺🇦 army will be the strongest & most innovative on the continent!
I am committed to help.
Today @EU_Commission adopted €90 bln Ukraine Loan Support instrument to mostly fund 🇺🇦 military needs!