Ukraine, in January 2022, had more tanks than Germany, France, and the UK combined.
They had more air defense than Germany, France, and the UK combined, though the systems were not quite as capable individually.
They had nearly as many active duty military as Germany, France, and the UK combined, and a huge number of reservists with experience fighting in the War in Donbass against Russian military and paramilitary forces with tanks and artillery, as opposed to jihadists with no real heavy weapons of any kind.
Their airforce was mostly comparable in size to any one of the above, though again not as capable qualitatively.
And they had a hell of a lot more artillery and artillery shells than Germany, France, and the UK combined. By a massive margin, although again not quite as capable individually. Nearly all of the NATO-standard artillery ammunition that has been provided to Ukraine has come from US stockpiles, because at the rate Ukraine consumes artillery ammo Germany, France, and the UK would be collectively tapped out in about 10 days. Not to mention HIMARS ammunition.
The Russians were also rather handicapped by the reckless, arrogant stupidity of their plan and extreme secrecy resulting in soldiers selling their fuel rations for alcohol, because until a day or two beforehand they thought was all a bunch of western lies because that's what the government was saying publicly. With the result that a bunch of vehicles ran out of fuel halfway to Kyiv. Had the invasion been done according to doctrine rather than as what they expected to be an immediate victory as the Ukrainians laid down their arms, awed by their superior military power, the story may still have turned out very different.
Anyway, Ukraine had, by a very significant margin, the largest military in Europe excluding Russia, and certainly the most experienced in fighting "real" wars. Take this into consideration when boasting about how easily the rest of Europe would be able to handle a Russian invasion.
> Ukraine had, by a very significant margin, the largest military in Europe
Italy has a much more capable armoured force than Ukraine did at the time.
You are comparing T64s, vehicles designed in 1951 to modern vehicles? How do you think they are performing when it comes to firing on the move, engaging at night, accuracy, survivability?
Tanks newer than T64 have been long retired to reserve in Europe. There are many IFVs today capable of putting holes in T64s' in service today.
> The Russians were also rather handicapped by the reckless, arrogant stupidity of their plan
Such disrespect! Russia is an exemplary conservative society with traditional values!
Europe is 27 countries, not 3. Its's half a billion people.
Europe combined has more operational vehicles than Russia does. Has a larger standing army than Russia does.
A much better air force, and relies on it for air defence, not on ground-based missiles.
I never said 'easilly' but imagining that Russia can occupy half a billion people is downright crazy
Whether the Russians can occupy successfully isn't the point, they can do a ton of damage in a short amount of time, not to mention the torture and rape.
Who can invade EU, Russia after their showing in Ukraine? China from half the world away?
EU militaries have multiple times the budget of the RU army.
We don't need 11 carriers to defend ourselves.