Moscow cautious as EU explores possibility of unified army

The possibility of the European Union (EU) establishing a unified military force has raised significant attention in Moscow, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasizing that any developments in this area will be closely scrutinized by the Kremlin.

Commenting on recent reports about the EU's potential move toward creating a joint defence force, Peskov acknowledged that it remains unclear whether such a force will materialize and, if it does, what its foundational structure might be, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

He pointed out that, up to now, the EU has not had any integrated defence components.

"We do not know yet whether this army will be created, or on what basis," Peskov told a briefing.

"At present, the EU has no joint defence aspects. But as for the prospective plans, of course, they should be monitored very carefully, studied, and conclusions should be drawn."

The comments come in the wake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's suggestion that, if Ukraine is not accepted into NATO, a new military alliance, similar to NATO, should be formed in the region, with its borders potentially extending through eastern Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic states, and Finland. Zelenskyy's remarks have added to the debate over Europe's security architecture.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, however, rejected the idea of creating an EU army, warning that such proposals could be misunderstood and emphasizing the need for caution when discussing such sensitive matters.

As discussions regarding the future of European defence continue, Russia's attention to any shift in the EU's military posture will remain high, particularly amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.

By Vafa Guliyeva