After decades of insufficient investment in their own defense, European countries have found themselves sidelined in critical negotiations concerning the future of Ukraine, reports Politeka.net.
According to the Financial Times, Papperger emphasized that Europe has allowed itself to be "pushed aside" in the peace talks initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“If you don’t invest, if you’re not strong, they treat you like children,” he explained.
He noted that Europeans have maintained defense spending at around 1% of GDP over the past three decades, which has led to their exclusion from significant negotiations between the U.S. and Russia. Papperger likened the situation to children sitting at a separate table while adults conduct discussions, as reported by Politeka.
Official data confirms that from 2021 to 2024, defense spending in the European Union increased by 30%, reaching 326 billion euros, or 1.9% of GDP. Despite this, Papperger points out that Europe still lags behind in ensuring its own security compared to other global players.
These statements were made against the backdrop of potential peace negotiations initiated by Trump, in which Europeans and Ukraine will not participate. Papperger does not believe that Trump's talks with Putin will lead to a genuine end to the war, stressing that even after a potential cessation of hostilities, Europe will need to continue actively investing in defense. Regarding the situation in Germany, Papperger expressed hope that after the upcoming parliamentary elections, the new government will ease budget constraints and increase defense spending, despite the official stance of race leader Friedrich Merz.
Source: ft .