European Union Plans To Create A Joint Defense, Kremlin: Reality We Must Face

Dmitry Peskov (Source: Valentina Pevtcova/Roscongress via Kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - The Kremlin said on Thursday that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's plan to create a "real European Defense Union" if he wins a second term shows the mood in Europe towards militarization and confrontation, a reality that must be faced according to him.

In a document establishing its program ahead of the European Parliament's vote to give him a second term of office, Von der Leyen said the effort would include flagship projects in the field of air and cyber defense over the next five years.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the document reflected von der Leyen's "priority change" and said his proposal to provide "military color" to the European Union.

Peskov told reporters von der Leyen's proposal "asserts the general stance of European countries on militarization, escalation of tensions, confrontations and dependence on the confrontational method in their foreign policy."

Peskov said, although Russia poses no threat to the European Union, actions by member states regarding Ukraine "have removed the possibility of dialogue and considerations over Russia's concerns."

"This is a reality we have to face, and this forces us to configure our foreign policy approach properly," Peskov said.

"Everything is quite clear here," he said.