Major European powers, including France and the United Kingdom, have sought to increase military spending since Donald Trump took office in January amid concerns that the United States is no longer committed to European defence.

As Trump forges closer ties with the Kremlin, Russia has shifted much of its anger over the three-year conflict in Ukraine to Europe, accusing the EU and the UK of being the main obstacles to peace.

“For the most part, the signals from Brussels and European capitals concern plans to militarise Europe,” Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

“Europe has begun militarising itself and has become somewhat of a war party,” he added.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, co-leading efforts to form a so-called coalition of the willing along with French President Emmanuel Macron, is expected to address a meeting of about 30 military officials later.

Both Starmer and Macron have said they are prepared to deploy peacekeepers to Ukraine after a cease-fire between Moscow and Kiev, an idea that Russia flatly rejects. | BGNES