Europeans are “assembling” to expand in order to spite Russia, the top diplomat has said

The EU sees itself as a team of superheroes with an anti-Russian expansionist agenda, according to its top diplomat, Kaja Kallas.

The EU is urging member states to invest hundreds of billions in borrowed funds into bloc-wide rearmament, citing the need to support Ukraine and prepare for a potential war with Russia. Moscow denies any aggressive intent and accuses EU leaders of fearmongering and seeking to derail peace efforts in the Ukraine conflict.

“Europeans, assemble!” Kallas said on Sunday at a Munich Security Conference panel, invoking a Marvel Comics battle cry associated with Captain America. The catchphrase also appeared in the Munich event’s title, where Kallas declared Europeans were “dusting off our capes, pulling on our boots, revving up our engines.”

Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev quipped that Kallas was apparently turning to comic books to achieve her goal of becoming “very smart” through reading.

Kallas said Brussels’ priorities are “defense” against Russia, further EU expansion to counter what she called “Russian imperialism,” and securing trade deals with foreign nations. These three goals, she argued, define the EU in the same way that choices define fictional heroes.

⚡️“Europeans, assemble!” — Kaja Kallas