European Union Commissioner Andrius Kubilius criticized the Trump administration’s handling of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating it was unacceptable given Ukraine’s struggle for survival. In an NDTV interview, he emphasized the EU’s significant support for Ukraine, which surpasses U.S. aid. Kubilius remarked that collaborative efforts between the EU and India are crucial for maintaining international order amid rising threats from authoritarian regimes. He highlighted India’s growing significance and the need for expedited negotiations on a free trade agreement and a strategic defense pact. Kubilius praised India’s ambitious space program, suggesting potential for joint projects between the EU and India.
New Delhi:
In response to the disagreement between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Union Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has condemned the approach of the Trump administration, stating that “that was an unacceptable way” to treat a leader of a nation fighting for its existence.
During an exclusive and extensive interview with NDTV on Saturday, Mr. Kubilius, who serves as the European Commissioner for Defence Industry and Space, expressed that the 21st century will be India’s century, emphasizing the European Commission’s eagerness to expedite a free trade agreement with India.
Commenting on the Trump-Zelensky tension, Mr. Kubilius, a former prime minister of Lithuania, remarked, “That was an extremely puzzling and unacceptable way of receiving a president from a country that is battling for its survival. Numerous European leaders, including EU Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen, have clearly communicated their support to Mr. Zelensky and Ukraine, indicating they will not stand alone. The strategy of President Trump and his team remains unclear to us.”
The Commissioner mentioned that the EU began to receive perplexing messages during the Munich conference, particularly when US Vice President JD Vance criticized the Union on various issues.
Reaffirming that all members of the European Union are committed to peace in Ukraine, he stated, “Ukrainians truly deserve peace, and they strongly wish for it. However, a just peace can only be attained through a formula of peace through strength. This formula has also been reiterated by Americans. It signifies that we must provide strength to the Ukrainians – military, financial, and other forms – to demonstrate to Vladimir Putin that he will not gain anything from his actions in Ukraine. Mr. Putin initiated the war; he commenced the aggression.”
Mr. Kubilius also criticized the United States for having a “misconception” regarding its level of support for Ukraine, asserting, “We are providing support, and the Americans have been doing quite a bit too… yet the Union’s overall military and financial support is approximately 30% greater than that of the Americans. Our total support amounted to $130 billion, while the US contributed $100 billion, not 500 billion, or any inflated numbers we sometimes hear from President Trump,” he clarified.
He highlighted that the military aid from both the US and the EU each year is below 0.1% of their GDPs, suggesting that it could thus be increased.
He cautioned that failing to support Ukraine would send a message to China that it could act aggressively.
“We must enhance our support because Ukraine is defending us all. It is certainly safeguarding us Europeans and, in a way, also the US. If the West fails in Ukraine and Russia, through its aggressive actions, prevails, we can clearly foresee the international repercussions. I am convinced that China is closely observing the situation in Ukraine. If China concludes that the West is politically weak and incapable of halting Russia’s aggression, it could also adopt an aggressive stance toward Taiwan or elsewhere,” he elaborated.
Rules-Based Order
When asked how India and the European Union can collaborate to maintain the international rules-based order, the Commissioner noted that Europe faces significant threats from Russia, with European intelligence agencies indicating that Moscow could target EU or NATO member states next. India, he emphasized, is encountering its own challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
“In my opinion, countries that share principles of democracy, rule of law, and support for an international order founded on clear notions of sovereignty and non-aggression should unite and become more proactive in preventing authoritarian regimes from testing us through any form of aggression,” he stated, particularly concerned about Russian behavior, mentioning Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China.
“Therefore, we must clearly convey that we cannot permit anyone to act aggressively without intervention from the international democratic community,” he added.
‘India’s Century’
Mr. Kubilius stated that this marks the first visit by the entire EU College of Commissioners to India, highlighting the significance of the strategic relationship between the two entities.
“I have been reiterating that the 21st century will primarily be the century of space and India’s century… owing to India’s development, importance, and the geopolitical and economic roles it plays and will play throughout this century. The European Union and India share fundamental values of democracy and human rights, which makes our cooperation and strategic partnership crucial,” he emphasized.
The Commissioner reported that he had key discussions with Minister of Atomic Energy and Space Jitendra Singh, ISRO officials, and others. He aligns with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen in saying that this is “not the time to impose limits on our future cooperation between the European Union and India.”
“Numerous opportunities were explored in our discussions. For instance, we agreed to initiate a high-level strategic space dialogue and to advance discussions for a free trade agreement as swiftly as possible… ideally by the end of the year. Another critical point related to defense and security is that the Commission president proposed developing a strategic pact on defense and security between the EU and India, akin to those we have with Japan and South Korea,” he mentioned, stressing India’s vital role globally and in the Indo-Pacific, which is also significant for the EU.
The proposed defense pact, Mr. Kubilius noted, could involve organizing joint exercises, data sharing, and collaborative space initiatives.
Space, Defence Cooperation
Expressing his admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious space program, the Commissioner discussed India’s aspirations for a crewed moon landing by 2040, building a space station, and the recent successful docking experiment.
“We can anticipate developments in space manufacturing and energy production. All these advancements will pave the way for new collaborative opportunities and joint projects between the EU and India. Demonstrating significant achievements in space would indicate that you are indeed formidable partners,” he commented.
When asked if EU companies might collaborate with Indian firms to establish joint manufacturing in India, Mr. Kubilius referred back to Ms. von der Leyen’s “no-limit” partnership statement, expressing no objections to such cooperation.
He also underscored that, in light of Russia’s “aggression,” India could be a viable option to help address the gaps in the EU’s defense capabilities.
“In this regard, we need to assess how these gaps might be filled using all possible avenues, including joint ventures and collaborative projects. India boasts a well-established defense industry, with a skilled workforce, and the production costs in India are lower than those in Europe. Hence, why not pursue mutually beneficial cooperation?” he concluded.