Category: Europe-Asia

KYIV, Ukraine (NPA) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for long-term international support and funding for Ukraine’s military, arguing that the country’s armed forces have become Europe’s most effective defence against large-scale aggression.

Addressing the 35th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), a coalition of more than 50 countries coordinating military and security assistance for Ukraine, Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian army had demonstrated its ability to deter and resist sustained military aggression.

According to him, preserving that capability after the war would be essential to Europe’s future security architecture.

“Today, the Ukrainian army is effectively the main army in Europe that can deter and resist large-scale aggression over a long period of time. And after this war, this must remain the case,” Zelenskyy said.

“The existence of such an army should help prevent any future aggressive moves by Putin. That is why we need to start thinking now about how to provide the funding the Ukrainian army will need in the years ahead.”

He argued that a stronger and more secure Europe would depend on long-term cooperation with Ukraine and continued support for its military capabilities.

“If we want Europe to have the strongest army, one that can truly respond to any threat, this is only possible with long-term cooperation with Ukraine and long-term support for the Ukrainian army. This is a realistic new security architecture for Europe,” he added.

Zelenskyy also highlighted what he described as urgent military requirements, including unmanned ground vehicles and long-range artillery ammunition.

He disclosed that he had raised both issues with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, stressing that current production levels and funding commitments were insufficient to meet Ukraine’s operational needs.

“Right now, there is not enough of either. We need both urgently. The funding being allocated for this is not enough. The quantities Europe is producing are not enough. What the Ukrainian army is receiving is not enough,” he said.

The Ukrainian leader maintained that Europe possesses the industrial capacity to increase production and supply if the necessary political decisions are made.

Zelenskyy also called for stronger anti-ballistic missile defence systems to counter what he described as Russia’s continued reliance on missile attacks.

“We all see that Putin is now relying on one last thing: constant missile attacks. He has ballistic missiles. So we need anti-ballistic capabilities,” he said.

While noting that Ukraine has achieved an interception rate of more than 90 per cent against drone attacks and has strengthened its ability to defend against cruise missiles, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Russian ballistic missiles remain a significant challenge.

“We’ve done a lot to defend against drones, and our interception rate is above 90 per cent. That is a serious achievement. We are also defending against cruise missiles. But Russian ballistic missiles remain a problem, and we need an answer to that problem,” he said.

He urged members of the anti-ballistic coalition supporting Ukraine to accelerate efforts to deliver more effective air defence systems.

“Our anti-ballistic coalition must demonstrate full capability and deliver real results. By this winter, we should already see concrete outcomes from our joint work on anti-ballistic defence,” Zelenskyy said.

STRASBOURG, France (NPA) — The European Parliament has voted in favour of a sweeping overhaul of the European Union’s migration return system, backing new measures aimed at increasing the deportation of illegal migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected.

The proposed legislation, known as the Return Directive, was approved by 418 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), while 218 voted against it.

The reform seeks to address the EU’s low deportation rate, with officials estimating that only about 20 per cent of migrants issued return orders are currently removed from the bloc.

Under the proposed rules, migrants subject to deportation orders will be required to actively cooperate with authorities by providing identification documents, relevant information, and remaining available throughout the return process.

Failure to cooperate could result in detention and other enforcement measures.

One of the most significant provisions of the legislation allows detention periods of up to 30 months in cases where authorities require additional time to facilitate deportation procedures.

The directive also introduces the mutual recognition of return decisions across EU member states, enabling deportation orders issued in one country to be enforced more easily throughout the bloc.

Supporters say the measure will prevent individuals from avoiding deportation by moving from one EU country to another after receiving a return order.

The legislation further provides for the establishment of so-called “return hubs” in third countries through agreements that comply with international human rights obligations.

Under the arrangement, migrants awaiting deportation could be transferred to designated non-EU countries before being returned to their countries of origin.

The proposal also shortens voluntary departure periods, allowing authorities to accelerate removals in cases involving non-compliance or security concerns.

Additional provisions grant law enforcement agencies broader investigative powers, including searches and seizures aimed at obtaining evidence necessary for deportation proceedings.

The directive also provides for longer re-entry bans of up to 10 years and imposes stricter restrictions on individuals classified as security threats who attempt to re-enter the European Union after deportation.

The legislation must still be approved by the Council of the European Union before it can enter into force.

Supporters of the reform argue that the measures are necessary to restore public confidence in the EU’s migration system and ensure that immigration rules are effectively enforced.

Among those welcoming the vote was Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers, Vice Chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, who described the outcome as a major step toward tougher migration enforcement across Europe.

“Mass deportations from Europe will soon become reality,” Weimers said following the vote.

The proposal has, however, drawn criticism from some lawmakers, migrant rights advocates, and humanitarian organisations, who argue that extended detention periods and third-country return arrangements could raise legal and human rights concerns.

Migration remains one of the most contentious political issues within the European Union, with member states divided over how best to manage irregular migration, asylum applications, border security, and migrant integration.

If adopted by the Council, the revised Return Directive would represent one of the most significant changes to the EU’s migration enforcement framework in recent years, potentially reshaping how member states handle deportations and illegal migration across the bloc.