Brussels—— The European Union cannot rely on the United States to defend itself and must increase military spending and security preparations to help Ukraine and prevent Russia from targeting its neighbors again, senior EU officials warned on Wednesday.

“Ask not what the United States can do for our security. Ask yourself what we can do for our security,” said Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, which holds the rotating EU presidency, quoting a line from US President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address. something. "

In a speech to EU lawmakers, Tusk urged the 27-nation bloc to "take ownership" of its security and identify its weaknesses. "If Europe is to survive, it must be armed," he said.

Concerns are growing that U.S. President Donald Trump may seek a quick end to the war on terms unfavorable to Ukraine in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, or again refuse to defend European allies who do not increase their military budgets.

"We need to believe in our strength again," Tusk told the congress in Strasbourg, France. "We are strong and we can compete with the most powerful countries in the world. The only thing we have to do is believe in it."

Tusk said his country spends nearly 5% of its gross domestic product on its defense budget, more than any NATO ally, including the United States. He urged his European partners to adhere to the ratio at least until Russia made concessions.

"We need to radically increase our defense spending today (but) not forever."

In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Kaya Karas warned of the dangers Russia already posed, listing a series of sabotage, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and electronic GPS interference that she accused Moscow of supporting. .

"Many of our national intelligence agencies have provided us with information that Russia may be testing the EU's readiness to defend itself within three to five years," she told a gathering of the European Defense Agency. “If we don’t listen to them, who can we listen to?”

Karas warned that the Russian defense industry "is churning out tanks, glide bombs and artillery shells. They produce more weapons and ammunition in three months than we produce in 12 months."

She described Russia as "a highly militarized state that poses an existential threat to all of us. Our time is running out. Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom and our freedom. They are all buying us time." "

Karas pointed out that EU member states spend an average of 1.9% of GDP on military budgets, while Russia spends 9%. Twenty-three EU countries are also members of NATO, which encourages allies to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense.

In addition to leaving the world's largest trading bloc exposed, Karas said, "Europe's failure to invest in military capabilities also sends a dangerous signal to aggressors. Weakness invites them in."

Karas stressed that the United States is "our strongest ally and must remain so."

EU leaders will hold an "informal retreat" on the outskirts of Brussels on February 3 to discuss security and defense issues for the first time. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will attend.