Europe must raise defence spending, use Russian assets for Ukraine

25/2/2025 6:28

Europe should use money from frozen Russian assets for further military support of Ukraine and relax its fiscal rules to boost defence spending, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Monday.



Czech defence spending must grow to 3% of gross domestic product in several years from around 2% in 2024, to reflect the new geopolitical reality, Fiala said in an address to the nation.



"President (Donald) Trump has decided to completely transform U.S. foreign policy. The speed, thrust and rhetoric are certainly surprising, but the shift of the United States away from focusing on Europe should not surprise us," Fiala said in the speech shown live on television.



"Our fundamental aim now must be a strong Europe. A Europe which can deter Russia from further military attacks on sovereign European states."