Zelenskyy: Russia will have 2.5 million soldiers by 2030, Europe needs to increase troop numbers

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that Europe needs joint armed forces in view of the threat posed by Russia.

Zelenskyy said during an online press briefing Russia aims to field armed forces of 2-2.5 million troops by 2030.

He therefore stressed that the united European armed forces, while recognising that each country must maintain its own sovereign military, must be ready to respond to the threat posed by Russia.

In Zelenskyy's view, the size of Europe's joint armed forces should be around 3 million.

"I put forward this proposal to leaders, at least in Europe, last year. A year has passed and, to be honest, no one has taken a single step towards this idea. Maybe now, amid all these challenges, European leaders will think about it a little."

On 16 October, the European Commission presented a roadmap for the EU's defence readiness by 2030.

On 19 November, the EU presented the "military Schengen" project to enable the rapid movement of troops across Europe.

In December, Members of the European Parliament called on EU countries to abolish internal borders for the movement of troops and military equipment and to invest in modernising transport infrastructure across the Union.