Pekka Toveri (EPP) delivers a powerful reminder: Europe cannot afford to ignore the Russian threat. Drawing on the painful history of countries like Finland, Estonia, and Poland, he rejects the notion that diplomacy alone can stop aggression. Toveri stresses the need for continued defence investments to ensure Europe’s security and protect future generations. Highlighting the real power behind Russia’s defence budget, he urges Europe to stay on course. Watch to understand why he believes defence readiness is not optional—it’s essential.

    • CAVOK@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      101·
      9 months ago

      Care to give an example of an EU country that illegally annexed part of another country in the last 80 years or so?

      • shaserlark@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        88·
        9 months ago

        I think Russia is an imperialist monster and as such a threat to Europe, but most some of Europe illegally invaded Iraq & Lybia and they deliver weapons and are mostly pro-Israel. So we’re not better we’re just not attacking our direct neighbors anymore.

        So the top-level comment does have a point but only because we’re hypocrites

        • wieson@feddit.orgEnglish
          81·
          9 months ago

          Let’s take all EU+ former EU+ eea countries = 31 countries

          2003 invasion of Iraq:

          USA, UK, Australia, Poland

          2/31 = not most

          Intervention in Libya 2011:

          12/31 = still not most

            • aeshna_cyanea@lemm.eeEnglish
              1·
              9 months ago

              and yet in this very same thread people are perfectly willing to bomb Russian civilians because they share responsibility because they live in the same country. Somehow this doesn’t apply between countries in the EU, curious

              • shaserlark@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
                1·
                9 months ago

                Yeah I never really thought this specific hypocrisy through because it never occurred to me personally that it would be okay to ever bomb civilians, but I think you’re right. It’s a horrifying thing to think about really, but that is the level of warmongering we have reached. I actually really don’t see how it’s any better. European civilians wishing death to Russian civilians for wishing death to Ukrainian civilians. We Europeans will be able to justify why it’s okay when we do it and bad when others do it, as always. But no matter the explanation the result is the same, someone wishes people dead.

    • Railcar8095@lemm.eeEnglish
      4·
      9 months ago

      I think the problem might not be how much they spent, but what they are doing with it. Unless I’m mistaken, the real cost of the war people care about are Ukrainian civilians, not rubles.