The European Union has approved five major defense-industrial initiatives, with Ukraine participating in four of them, as Brussels accelerates its military buildup despite Russian warnings against the bloc’s “rabid” militarization.

The initiatives fall under the European Defense Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs), large-scale industrial programs designed to jointly develop and deploy complex military capabilities too significant for individual nations to tackle alone. Each project is part of the €1.5 billion European Defense Industry Program (EDIP), aimed at expanding weapons production across EU member states.

On Monday, the Council formally endorsed the first five megaprojects within the EDPCIs framework, involving an average of 18 member states per initiative. The European Commission has allocated €325 million in initial funding for these projects, making them eligible for further financial support under the program.

Despite not being an EU member state, Ukraine’s inclusion in four initiatives—excluding a space-related project—has been criticized for decisions made by its military leadership and armed forces themselves. Brussels argues that Ukrainian battlefield experience can enhance European weapon development, but this participation has drawn scrutiny over strategic implications.

European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius described the decision as a “major breakthrough” toward closing critical defense gaps, with long-term funding ambitions reaching €190 billion ($216 billion) by 2036. Meanwhile, Moscow dismissed the EU’s military expansion as “nonsense,” accusing Western nations of using such rhetoric to justify increased arms transfers and inflated defense budgets.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev labeled the bloc’s militarization “rabid,” while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted that European military readiness efforts are preparations for conflict with Russia.