War in Ukraine: Europe Must Face Its Security Challenges
Russia’s all-out attack on Ukraine is the biggest security crisis since the end of the Cold War and the war will have far-reaching consequences for the European continent, highlights Catherine De Vries, professor of Political Science at Bocconi. “The EU has a big role to play and cannot only reply to Russia with sanctions but has to safeguard its security,” she says. “This means an increase in defense spending and strengthening the eastern flank of the EU. And also supporting Ukrainian resistance, accepting refugees and sending troops to states bordering Ukraine. The EU should also work towards greater strategic autonomy – speeding up fiscal integration to strengthen economic power and the Green Deal to diversify away from Russian oil and gas.”