E5 in Paris names Russia the "most acute and long-term threat" to Europe
Defence ministers of Europe's five biggest military powers reaffirmed support for Ukraine but made no new pledges. They also discussed helping Kyiv acquire its own satellites.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
Defence ministers from France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Poland, meeting in the so-called E5 format, named Russia "the most acute and long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security and stability". The wording is in their joint statement after Monday's meeting in Paris. Also attending were EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska and Ukraine's defence minister.
The ministers reaffirmed their support for Ukraine but announced no new commitments. French minister Catherine Vautrin said: "We have a total commitment, and for us it is extremely important not to be intimidated and never to be divided." She said the ministers discussed how Ukraine could acquire its own satellites to reduce its dependence on the U.S. Starlink system.
Kallas warned of a "serious risk of renewed escalation" between the United States and Iran. Italian minister Guido Crosetto said Italy was ready to take part in mine-hunting operations, The National reported. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin was working with Kyiv on an air defence system to supplement existing systems such as Patriot.