Europe's major military powers reaffirm support for Ukraine, push for defense autonomy

Defense ministers from Europe's top five military powers, France, Germany, Britain, Italy and Poland, met on Wednesday in Paris to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine's defense, as part of a broader push to bolster European security.

The meeting, held at the Val de Grace former military hospital in Paris, also included representatives from the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as a virtual address from Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

In a joint declaration published after the event, the ministers agreed to strengthen European support for peace in Ukraine, including accelerating defense industrial cooperation projects with Ukraine.

Speaking at a joint press conference, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu told reporters that the defense capacity of the Ukrainian army would be "one of the first security guarantees" for Kiev.

Lecornu reiterated that France would not accept any demilitarization of the Ukrainian army.

Echoing the sentiment, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stressed that there would be no future for Ukraine "without the ability to defend itself".

Earlier this month, the EU chief Ursula von der Leyen unveiled an 800 billion-euro package to shore up Europe's defense capabilities and provide military support for Ukraine after Washington suspended aid.

The French defense minister also presented a controversial plan last week to use interest from frozen Russian assets to provide Ukraine with an additional 195 million euros in military aid.

These moves came amid growing urgency in Europe to address its defense vulnerabilities. In a Tuesday interview with CCTV, French military expert Dominique Trinquand highlighted the continent's significant gaps in areas such as long-range military strikes, air defense, electronic warfare, and intelligence capabilities. France has been at the forefront of efforts to tackle these weaknesses, pushing for greater European defense autonomy over the past seven years.

However, achieving this goal would require much higher military spending. French President Emmanuel Macron has previously proposed raising France's defense budget to five percent of its GDP, far exceeding NATO's two-percent target for member states. Bridging this gap would pose great economic challenges for European nations, potentially sparking further divisions within Europe.

Europe's major military powers reaffirm support for Ukraine, push for defense autonomy

Europe's major military powers reaffirm support for Ukraine, push for defense autonomy

Israel has been ratcheting up the number of settlements and annexation of the occupied West Bank and transferring its own population into the territory which constitutes a breach of international law, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office.

Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesman for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, presented a report by the UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday that outlined the ongoing transfer of powers over the Occupied Palestinian Territory from the Israeli military to the government.

According to the report, based on research between Nov 1, 2023 and Oct 31, 2024, there had been a "significant" expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

"The Government of Israel has been increasing the number of settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, transferring its own population into the territory and unlawfully demolishing Palestinian homes. At the same time settler violence has increased with continued impunity," said Al-Kheetan.

The report also refers to plans to construct over 20,000 housing units in new or existing Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem alone, according to Israeli non-governmental organizations.

In East Jerusalem, 214 Palestinian properties and structures have been demolished. Over 10,300 units within existing Israeli settlements in the rest of the West Bank are in the pipeline, and an unprecedented 49 new Israeli outposts have been established, according to the report.

"The Israeli government is facilitating the advancement of settlements in the West Bank, and the steady integration of this occupied territory into the State of Israel, the report finds. Israel's settlement policy, its acts of annexation, and related discriminatory legislation and measures are in breach of international law, and violate Palestinians' right to self-determination," said Al-Kheetan.

The spokesman added that the transfer by Israel of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies amounts to a war crime.

Israel expands illegal settlements, annexation of West Bank: UN report