3% for defense is realistic. European security must be re-founded. More and more countries are set to start negotiations and reach at least a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine. So far, no one has given a convincing answer to the question of how Russian President Vladimir Putin can sit at the negotiating table. With more pressure (sanctions) or through China, some negotiations could eventually be reached.
This opinion was expressed in an interview with BNR by Vesela Cherneva, Vice President of the European Institute for Foreign Policy.
Trump will not be able to give everything to everyone at the same time. His priorities will be inward, towards the US, Cherneva emphasized in conclusion.
"The hope is that this shock to the system can turn into an opportunity – European defense should be reconsidered.
3% would be a realistic threshold that most governments would start to strive for", believes Vesela Cherneva in relation to the percentage of defense that NATO countries should allocate.
European security must not only be strengthened, but in a sense also refounded. Europe cannot continue to rely on American military defense. Europe's big problem is that it cannot replace the withdrawal of American capabilities. The creation of a defense commissioner alone will not do.
So far, no one has given a convincing answer to the question of how to get the Russian president to sit at the negotiating table. With more pressure (sanctions) or through China, some negotiations could possibly be reached. The negotiations will have to lead to conditions acceptable to the Ukrainians. It seems that more and more countries are ready to start some kind of negotiations and reach at least a temporary truce, says Vesela Cherneva's analysis.
In the program "Predi vyss" she predicted a probable four-party format of the negotiations - Russia, the US, Ukraine, the EU, and outlined the need for guarantees for the security of Ukraine, which in her opinion should be "European or with European participation".
"It must be clear how this truce will be maintained afterwards. To ensure that this war will not break out again in a few months or years. That such a peace can be lasting."
"It seems quite logical, because the tariffs threaten Canada, the EU and other US allies. So far, most of these threats have not materialized. Regarding China, Trump promised 60% tariffs, but imposed only 10%. If there is a common coalition prepared with a reciprocal response, this would change the situation. At least there will be some kind of plan, we will not just sit defenseless", commented Cherneva regarding a united response to those potentially affected by American tariffs.
"Orban thought that he would do a favor not only to his own position, but also to Trump by stopping the continuation of the sanctions", said Vesela Cherneva regarding the latest extension of European sanctions against Russia. According to her, however, it turned out that the US did not want to stop the sanctions against Moscow, which is why Orban lifted his veto.
After the war in Ukraine, Denmark began to review its defense doctrine, changed its budget to increase defense spending. Now Denmark can become a model for other countries in the region. The case of Greenland is symbolic because it is a territory that is part of the broader context of transatlantic security, she noted.