European countries with the largest defense budgets called Russia the main security threat and promised to support Ukraine A meeting of the E5 group of countries with the largest defense budgets was held in Paris on October 26. Defense ministers from the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland and France gathered to discuss support for Ukraine ahead of the winter. Following the meeting, they called Russia the main long-term threat to European security. Our countries share the view that Russia represents the most acute and long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security and stability. The ministers promised to continue supporting Ukraine, but did not announce new packages of military or financial aid, Bloomberg notes. During the meeting, they limited themselves to confirming their previous commitments. ——. European countries have announced their intention to continue supporting Ukraine against the backdrop of a new crisis in relations between Washington and Kiev. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, demanded that Ukraine stop the attacks on the Russian fuel infrastructure, and also softened the sanctions against Russia, which allow the sale of diesel fuel on the world market. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Trump of trying to force Ukraine to surrender and said that the US is delaying the delivery of missiles to the Patriot air defense systems, as well as limiting the operation of Starlink and its military version of the Star Shield on Ukrainian territory.