Europe is hopelessly out-gunned by Russia when it comes to nuclear missiles, a leading academic has warned – with the continent needing 1,000 more warheads to deter Vladimir Putin.
German political scientist Maximilian Terhalle warned European leaders need to invest in more than 1,000 nukes to match more than 1,500 currently held by the Kremlin.
The stark warning from Mr Terhalle, a visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, comes as heads of state from the continent and Canada meet for a summit in London today to discuss further support for Ukraine against Russia‘s invasion.
There are heightened security fears for Britain, NATO and Europe, as US President Donald Trump‘s administration has mooted decreasing American military support.
After a disastrous meeting with Ukraine‘s President Zelensky this week in the Oval Office, President Trump scrapped a potential minerals deal which many say as a pathway to peace.
Dr Terhalle told The Telegraph Russia has at least 1,550 longe-range nuclear missiles, compared to just a few hundred in Europe.
He said: “Trump has turned an enemy, Russia, into a friend, and that’s something of grievous concern. In the case that America draws away from Europe entirely – not yet – we have to ask how we will compensate for that because Russia’s imperial ambition has not diminished at all.
“We need to be on par with Russia’s 1,550 strategic warheads, otherwise we will not strategically influence what is going on in Putin’s mind, which is critical for deterrence.”
Dr Terhalle added the combined nuclear arsenals of France and Britain only reached around 450 nuclear warheads which could influence the outcome of any future war with Russia.
The academic has previously argued EU allies should buy or lease nuclear weapons from the US to match the military might of Moscow, but he admitted the “Trump administration might be less inclined” to agree to help than the previous Biden administration.
European leaders will gather in London later to forge a common position on ending the war in Ukraine, before President Zelensky heads to meet King Charles.
While Donald Trump‘s America is the driving force behind brokering a peace with Russia, Sir Keir Starmer wants Europe to be ready to lead peacekeeping efforts should a deal be struck.
At Lancaster House, a mansion near Buckingham Palace, the Prime Minister is expected to urge the 18 countries in attendance to follow the UK in answering the US’s calls to boost defence spending.
Sir Keir pledged this week to raise the UK’s defence spending to 2.5% of its economic output by 2027.
The summit comes after several days in which the foundations of the transatlantic Nato alliance have been shaken.
A clash between Mr Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office was broadcast around the world on Friday, in which the US President claimed his counterpart was “gambling with world war three”.
It resulted in Ukraine‘s president being kicked out of the White House, and a deal to exchange mineral rights for further US military support was placed on ice.