Borrell describes Ukraine as 'testing ground' for EU military CAP

• 

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the war in Ukraine as a "laboratory testing ground" for the military capabilities of the European Union from which they can learn and improve their military. 

"This war [the conflict in Ukraine] unfortunately has been a bit of a laboratory testing ground for our capabilities our priorities. We have to see what lessons we have learned from this so as to ensure we have a greater and better capability of European defense in the future," Borrell said at a press conference following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. 

In another context, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General, said outside of the EU Foreign Affairs Council and defense ministers' joint meeting in Brussels, that increasing military production is essential in the race for logistics that is currently taking place in Ukraine.

The conflict in Ukraine is currently being fought via attrition and has evolved into a logistical conflict, Stoltenberg said.

"To ramp up [military] production is absolutely key," the NATO chief stated.

Additionally, he exhorted NATO nations to boost military manufacturing, develop stronger ties with suppliers, and engage in more active contract signing.

"I have decided to invite representatives from the defense industry from both sides of the Atlantic to our defense ministerial meeting next month, to an event where we will engage directly with all the ministers and the defense industry," Stoltenberg added.

The decision by many NATO nations to begin training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s was also welcomed by Stoltenberg, who did not completely rule out Kiev receiving the aircraft in the future.

Read more: EU nearly out of means to sanction Russia: Borrell

The EU has supplied Kiev with 220,000 artillery ammunition and 1,300 missiles since the start of the war, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell revealed today. 

"The latest figures actually are much better than we had just some ten days ago because I can announce today that member states have provided 220,000 artillery ammunition of different calibers and 1,300 missiles have been provided [to Ukraine]."

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell added that number of countries, including Poland, have begun training Ukrainian pilots in flying F-16 fighter jets.

Read more: Medvedev: NATO is undermining the threat of nuclear war