European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has called on EU leaders to commit €5 billion ($5.4 billion) for artillery shells to strengthen Ukraine’s position in ongoing peace negotiations.
Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Kallas emphasized the need for concrete military support, urging leaders to back their words with action amid growing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s diplomatic outreach to Russia.
Kallas initially proposed a €40 billion military aid package, with contributions based on each country’s economic capacity, but scaled it down following resistance from several EU nations, particularly in southern Europe.
She now prioritizes meeting Ukraine’s urgent demand for 2 million artillery shells, stressing that Kyiv’s battlefield strength will determine its leverage in future negotiations.
European Leaders Divided Over Military Strategy
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda reaffirmed his country’s commitment to arming Ukraine, including supplying long-range missiles. “We must rearm ourselves; otherwise, we risk becoming the next victims of Russian aggression,” he warned.
However, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed reservations about the term “rearm,” highlighting the distinct security challenges faced by different EU regions. “The threats in the southern neighborhood differ from those on the eastern flank,” he noted.
As the EU debates its military strategy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was set to address the summit via video link, urging leaders to accelerate aid deliveries to bolster Ukraine’s defense against ongoing Russian aggression.
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