Overview

• EVP leader Manfred Weber called for a collective European drone‑protection shield and stronger cyber defenses, arguing the continent is militarily underprepared.
• Weber also urged an immediate stop to Russian raw‑material imports, rejecting what he framed as appeasement and stressing that swift arms support kept Ukraine from falling.
• Linke chair Jan van Aken contended that continued purchases of Russian LNG by France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands help fund the war, citing roughly €24 billion.
• Panelists described a grey zone between war and peace marked by daily cyberattacks, disinformation and drone incidents, with experts urging clear doctrine and calibrated responses.
• Policy options discussed included using frozen Russian assets as credit for Ukraine, while ZDF noted agency reports indicating the Pentagon currently leans against sending US Tomahawk missiles.