Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, has issued a call to European nations to acknowledge Russia's military threat and prepare accordingly to maintain peace.
In a column for the French newspaper Libération, Michel reflected on the wakeup call he received from Zelensky in the early hours of February 24, which signified a drastic shift in Europe's post-World War II security landscape.
Michel described modern Russia as "a serious military threat to the European continent and global security," urging European states and societies to be ready for any eventualities.
"If we want peace, we need to prepare for war... It's time to take responsibility for our security," he stressed.
Michel advocated for a significant increase in purchases from the European defense industry by 2030. This strategy aims not only to bolster readiness for potential conflict but also to stimulate job creation and economic growth.
The European Council's leader emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine and providing it with everything it needs - from cartridges to small arms to anti-aircraft defense.
"The European budget should be used to purchase weapons and equipment for Ukraine. And we should use the exceptional proceeds from frozen Russian assets," Michel said.
According to Michel, the upcoming summit of European leaders scheduled for March 21-22 in Brussels will be extremely important.
This call to action comes as Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, indicates an impending boost in ammunition supplies to the Ukrainian military, thanks to initiatives like the one led by the Czech Republic, promising an enhanced support system in the near future.
