Europe needs to stop relying on US-led proposals and craft its own approach to ending the war in Ukraine, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told POLITICO. He said Brussels should be prepared to negotiate alongside American plans and secure a stronger role in shaping the continent’s security future.
US-Russia talks raise concerns in Brussels
With US negotiators recently meeting in Moscow on a controversial draft peace plan that limited Ukraine’s army and banned NATO membership, European officials worry repeated reliance on Washington could leave the bloc without influence over the European conflict’s outcome.
Kubilius argued that Europe must be able to propose its own peace initiatives to avoid being sidelined. Developing independent plans would allow Brussels to coordinate with allies while maintaining a seat at the table.
US pivot to Pacific underscores need for self-reliance
The commissioner, a former Lithuanian prime minister, said the US’s strategic pivot toward the Pacific underscores the need for Europe to strengthen its own defense capabilities.
He called for revisiting institutional mechanisms, including the EU’s mutual defense clause, and investing in military-industrial development.
Combining European and American approaches
Kubilius said the goal is to combine European and American proposals to achieve the best possible outcome, while ensuring that the EU can act independently if NATO’s Article 5 is not invoked.
He also highlighted the fragmented state of Europe’s defense industry and the need for deeper integration to support long-term strategic readiness.
