Do European leaders understand the importance of increased defense spending against potential Russian threats?

According to General Sir Richard Shirreff, European leaders do not truly grasp the urgency of increased defense spending. He points out that while there's a stated intention to move from the current 2.3% of GDP to 2.5% 'when conditions allow,' there has been no concrete action or clear strategy to reach the necessary 3% of GDP for defense. Shirreff emphasizes that effective European defense requires decisive leadership and willingness to make sacrifices, including potential tax increases and ministry budget cuts. Without a firm commitment to these measures, he believes European defense efforts will lack credibility in the face of potential threats from Russia.