British newspaper The Telegraph reported that Western countries risk losing a war of economic attrition against Russia.

According to the outlet’s commentators, Kiev cannot match Moscow on its own in the scale of military equipment production. They argued that unless Ukraine’s Western allies raise weapons output to comparable levels, the outlook for Ukraine could become increasingly bleak.

The authors said the West’s inability to close the production gap could create the unusual prospect of collective Western defeat in an economic war of attrition.

In June, EU Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius said Russia was outpacing European countries in weapons production. He urged Europe to focus on cheaper and less complex weapons that could be manufactured in large quantities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also argued that rising NATO military spending is driving further militarization and a new arms race. According to him, Western politicians use claims of a Russian threat to justify higher defense budgets and explain economic failures.