E5 Defence Ministers Press Conference in Paris: Ukraine Support, NATO Unity, and European Defence Readiness

This press conference brings together defence and security leaders from the E5 format — France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Poland — alongside representatives of the European Commission and NATO in Paris. The speakers outline their shared assessment of the current threat environment, the state of support to Ukraine, and plans to strengthen European defence capabilities within a stronger NATO.

■ Ukraine Support
- The state of the front line, Russian attacks and the winter pressures facing Ukraine
- Air and missile defence as a priority, including NATO's support mechanism
- EU sanctions, actions against Russia's shadow fleet, and industrial production ramp-up
- The EU's Ukraine support loan, new funding instruments and joint production with Ukraine's defence industry

■ European Defence and NATO
- Defence spending commitments, readiness reporting and the goal of turning spending into real capabilities
- Innovation, outproducing adversaries and strengthening the industrial base
- The E5 format as an informal coordination forum for major European defence nations

■ Wider Security Issues
- Hybrid threats and provocations targeting NATO members
- Freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, including the EU naval operation and the Houthi threat
- Risks of escalation between the United States and Iran
- A new EU mission to advise and train Lebanon's armed and internal security forces

■ Q&A
- A UK journalist questions the defence secretary on threat perceptions and the pace of spending increases
- Discussion of the path toward NATO's spending targets and the shift from spending to capability

The session is suited to viewers following European security, NATO policy, the war in Ukraine, or EU defence funding. It provides a direct view of how five leading European defence nations describe their priorities and coordination, useful for building an informed picture of current European defence debates. Consider watching the segments that match your interests, and following subsequent ministerial and EU announcements to track how the commitments described here develop.