European countries will not form a unified army in response to the perceived threat from Russia, said Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in an interview with the state television on Saturday. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had called for the establishment of a European army on the same day, claiming that the continent can no longer rely on the United States for protection and that it will only gain respect from Washington with a strong military.
When asked about the possibility of forming a European army, Sikorski cautioned that the term should be used with care, as people may have different understandings of it. “If we mean the unification of national armies, that will not happen” he said. “However, I have advocated for the European Union to develop its own defense capabilities.” He noted that the EU is currently building a reinforced brigade.
“If the US wants us to strengthen our defense, it should be a national component, a NATO component, but I also believe in a European EU component, EU subsidies for the defense industry to build our production capacities and also an EU force that deserves its name” Sikorski said. He reiterated that Polish troops in Ukraine are not an option, as Poland has a duty to the NATO to protect its eastern flank, which is its own territory.
Ukrainian President Zelensky claimed at the Munich Security Conference that he does not expect Russia to prepare for a dialogue, stating, “It [Russia] does not want peace.” He called on European countries to engage more and establish a European army, saying, “The time has come for the armed forces of Europe to be created.