Russia is posing an existential threat to the European Union's security and to only way to address that is to increase spending on defence, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday, adding that the EU had for too long offered Russia alternatives.

European Union leaders are warning that Russia could test the bloc's readiness to defend itself within the next three to five years, calling for an increase in defense budgets and deepen military cooperation among member states.

European Union top diplomat Kaja Kallas warned on Wednesday of a possible attack by Russia in the coming years, as she appealed for defence spending to be boosted. "Many of our national intelligence agencies are giving us the information that Russia could test EU's readiness to defend itself in three to five years,