EU’s rep: No desired results following Ukraine's counter-offensive

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has admitted that the Ukrainian counter-offensive did not bring the desired results.

“Today, we hear again about reconciliation. We again hear voices that a Ukrainian victory is impossible and that Western support will not last long,” the diplomat wrote in an article for El País newspaper, TASS reports.

However, he did not agree with such assessments and noted that last year’s Ukrainian counter-offensive did not bring the desired results.

“Instead of offering reconciliation, the EU must redouble its efforts in such spheres in which it has achieved success. This process must be accompanied by a revival of the European defence industry. The war in Ukraine showed that industry is not ready for the situation we are faced with, as it is designed for peacetime,” Borrell added.

In this regard, the diplomat stood for a big increase in the European production capacity.

“Although defence spending increased by 40 per cent compared to 2014, it is not growing fast enough,” he stressed, drawing attention to the need to “win this race” against Russia.