Poland’s defense minister said Tuesday that Europe must speed up production of ammunition and weapons to keep pace with Russia or risk harming future generations.
Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who also serves as defense minister, said he favors a “war-mode” approach to the defense industry. He spoke at a press conference on the sidelines of the Warsaw Security Forum.
“This is what the Russian Federation does at the moment. We cannot overlook this fact,” he said.
Russia moved toward wartime defense production before its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It is projected to spend 7.5% of its gross domestic product on its armed forces in 2026.
An Estonian intelligence report said Russia produced roughly 7 million artillery, mortar, tank and rocket rounds in 2025. Russian forces currently use about 10,000 to 15,000 rounds a day in Ukraine.
Europe’s defense industry, by contrast, has been shaped by decades of underinvestment and fragmentation. A leaked report on Europe’s defense readiness said the 27 EU member states and Norway are expected to produce only 2 million 150 mm shells this year.
European and NATO rearmament efforts have produced the largest annual increase in defense spending since the Cold War, the report said. Even so, total EU defense spending in 2025 was estimated at 418 billion euros, or 2.2% of the bloc’s GDP.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said the “time has come” for Europe to prepare to defend itself by multiplying production. He called failure to do so a “costly” mistake that would negatively affect future generations.
Poland is among the biggest defense spenders relative to its GDP, devoting 4.7% to core defense capabilities, according to U.S. NATO envoy Matthew Whitaker.
