Despite the increase, the EU’s top diplomat warned that the bloc continues “to lag behind other players” in defense spending Military spending in the European Union increased by 6% to a record €240 billion ($261.4 billion) in 2022, according to figures published on Thursday by the European Defense Agency.

Russia’s Defense Ministry has published statistics detailing the aid supplied to Ukraine from abroad during the conflict with Russia. According to its figures, Kiev’s foreign backers together have spent more than $203 billion on assisting the government of President Vladimir Zelensky.

Moscow cannot be “canceled” or “ghosted” and will remain a major global player, Vienna’s top diplomat has said Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg has argued that Western politicians need to be more realistic in their attempts to isolate Russia, as the country will always be the European Union’s neighbour and a key international player.