European Union moves forward with steel porcupine strategy for Ukraine as it ignores Putins demands to stop aid flow

The European Union said it would move forward with its “steel porcupine” strategy to bolster Ukraine’s defenses from further Moscow aggression — as the bloc ignores Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demands to end Western aid to Kyiv.The EU claimed it was pressing ahead with the move to fortify Ukraine’s defense industry and armed forces, as well as a possible membership into the bloc, in order to deter Russia from ever invading the country again.“For us, it will be important to continue to support Ukraine significantly — as the European Union as a whole, as allies and friends and as individual countries,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at Thursday’s EU summit.The notion of turning Ukraine into a “steel porcupine” emerged earlier this month following a meeting with world leaders over how to end the Ukraine war and ensure the nation’s security.“We have to put Ukraine in a position of strength so that it has the means to fortify itself and to protect itself,” said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

“It’s basically turning Ukraine into a steel porcupine that is indigestible for potential invaders.”The linchpin of the strategy lies in building up Ukraine’s air defense system with the sales and procurement of interceptor missiles and drones, as well as long-range precision warheads.The strategy also calls on the EU to provide at least 2 million rounds of large-caliber artillery shells for Ukraine each year.

European military officers will also help train tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, with vets from Kyiv offering the same to their EU counterparts.Ukrainians would also be eligible to join the EU’s space program, with Kyiv granted access to services provided by national governments in the area of global positioning, navigation, surveillance and communications.The EU leaders — with the exception Hungary, whose prime minister has cozied up to Putin over the years — also discussed the defense bluep...