Russia has threatened European arms manufacturers over their aid to Ukraine

Russia has stated that European defense companies that manufacture weapons for Ukraine are allegedly “legitimate and potential military targets” for the Russian Federation. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement to that effect.

Zakharova was responding to a question about the possibility of establishing a plant in Poland to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles for Ukraine.

Russia’s Threats Against Europe

According to her, European countries are directly involved in the war due to their military support for Ukraine.

"Arms factories in European countries that produce weapons for Ukraine are potential military targets for Russia. One should not assume that military enterprises outside Ukrainian territory that produce weapons for the Kyiv regime will be safe. Anyone who thinks so is mistaken,” Zakharova stated. 

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also stated that Moscow views the opening of defense plants and joint ventures in Europe as these countries’ direct involvement in the war.

“European countries are directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict. They are not merely providing aid. By opening arms factories and joint ventures, they are becoming fully entangled in it,” she said.

According to Zakharova, such activities allegedly do not bring the war closer to an end but, on the contrary, prolong it. 

Context

• Moscow’s statement came amid plans by European countries to ramp up their own defense production and increase supplies to Ukraine of air defense systems, ammunition, missiles, and drones.

• NATO and certain European countries have repeatedly emphasized that they will continue to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian attacks—in particular, with systems to intercept drones and missiles, which Russia systematically uses to attack Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure. 

This is being reported by Russian propaganda media.

Russia has threatened new strikes against the assets of European companies.

Putin stated that Russia is not preparing for war with Europe.

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Volodymyr Zelenskyy travel to Moscow for a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin. According to Bloomberg, the Ukrainian side rejected this proposal, and Zelenskyy publicly responded that he would travel to the Russian capital “on a rocket.”