Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, has defended the bloc’s role in supporting Ukraine amid growing concerns over US President Donald Trump’s shifting position on the conflict. Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Kallas reiterated that Trump’s earlier pledges to end the fighting were a primary reason for the EU’s engagement. Following Trump’s recent remarks suggesting that Ukraine, with the support of the EU, could ‘fight and win’ against Russia, Kallas pointed out that the responsibility for resolving the conflict rested with the US, not the EU.
The comments come after Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine and delayed imposing sanctions on Russia upon taking office in January. Kallas has also called on European NATO members to increase military, spending to 5% of GDP, emphasizing that NATO cannot exist without the US. The EU, however, continues to face challenges in funding long-term support for Ukraine, constrained by budgetary limits and resistance from some member states.
Despite Kallas’ ambitious plan to mobilize new military aid for Ukraine worth €40 billion via EU member states, the initiative faced significant resistance, with several countries, including France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, expressing hesitation due to the financial commitments involved. The package was eventually scaled back to €5 billion for ammunition, highlighting the challenges Kallas faces in translating her hawkish stance into collective action.
Russia has accused the EU of undermining peace efforts in Ukraine and militarizing in preparation for potential conflict with Moscow. Moscow’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently stated that the EU and NATO have declared ‘an actual war’ on Russia, suggesting that the West is orchestrating the Ukraine conflict.
Kallas’ remarks were made in the context of broader discussions on EU-US relations, with some analysts suggesting that Kallas’ insistence on US responsibility may reflect her dissatisfaction with Trump’s approach to the conflict. Nonetheless, the EU remains committed to its support for Ukraine, albeit with significant internal and financial challenges.