Ukraine experts to advise Europe on defence gaps

Military experts from Ukraine will join a new initiative to advise European countries on how to close gaps in the continent's defences, the European Union said Tuesday.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said advisers from Ukraine, Britain and EU nations would come together from next week. She spoke after a meeting of EU defence ministers in Ireland.

“Europe is investing more in defence than ever, but spending alone is not automatically a guarantee for success,” Kallas said. She said Europe had “not been fast enough” to cover gaps in conventional power within NATO.

Kallas said the initiative would bring together senior political and military leaders from several EU countries, Britain and Ukraine, with the aim of producing new security and defence ideas. She said Ukraine was included because of its battlefield experience.

European countries have increased military budgets since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has also pressured Europe to spend more on defence as Washington signals it wants to focus on other challenges, including China.

Kallas's announcement came amid concern that Moscow is increasing so-called hybrid operations in Europe. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany had increasingly found itself in the crosshairs of hybrid attackers after an explosive-laden drone was found in August at Leipzig airport.

The Pentagon, which has about 80,000 troops stationed in Europe, has told allies it is reducing the number of assets it makes available for NATO defence plans. Europe can already fill some of the gaps, but key assets such as long-range missiles will take time to replace.