BRUSSELS, Belgium — European Union defense ministers on Monday called for the urgent approval of multi-year financial aid for Ukraine, insisting that solid funding is critical to ending Russia’s war of aggression.
High Representative and Vice-President Kaja Kallas, speaking after the Foreign Affairs Council (Defense) meeting in Brussels, stressed that a stronger Ukraine is the fastest path to peace.
“The sooner Putin realizes that it cannot outlast us, the sooner this war will end,” Kallas said, arguing that multi-year funding would be a “game changer” for Ukraine’s defense.
The meeting, which included Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană, focused on continued support for Ukraine and bolstering European defense capabilities.
Pivotal Week Amid Russian Attacks
Kallas condemned a massive Russian aerial assault launched over the weekend, noting that while intense diplomatic talks on ending the conflict continue, “Everyone welcomes the push for peace, except Russia.”
She emphasized the clear-cut nature of the conflict: “In this war, there is one aggressor and one victim. Our job is to do all we can to support the victim and not reward the aggression.” The goal, she added, is to achieve “a just and durable peace, not a deal that lays ground for a next war.”
EU leaders agreed in October to fund Ukraine for the next two years, and Kallas underscored the urgency of reaching an agreement on the funding options. The December European Council meeting, she noted, will be “crucial in this regard,” as risks need to be shared among member states.
Europe has already provided over $205 billion (€187 billion) to Ukraine, more than any other international partner. Ministers agreed to step up military support, guided by the simple logic that “the stronger Ukraine is on the battlefield, the stronger they are behind the negotiation table.”
Industrial Cooperation and Anti-Corruption
Ministers also discussed deepening defense industrial cooperation with Kyiv, including mobilizing private financing through the European Investment Bank. Kallas highlighted the mutual benefits of this partnership.
“Europe and Ukraine must build together, produce together and innovate together,” she said. “Ukraine has the battlefield experience, and we also need this for our defense industry.”
She welcomed bilateral initiatives, citing an agreement signed Monday by the Netherlands and Ukraine to set up a production line on Ukrainian territory.
Kallas addressed recent corruption probes in Ukraine, stating that while “trust matters,” the investigations themselves demonstrate that “anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine work.”
Boosting European Defense
The council also tackled the need to strengthen the EU’s own defense capabilities rapidly, noting that Russia’s aggression is unlikely to stop on its own.
“We do not have much time to act,” Kallas warned. “Putin is unlikely to honor any agreement for long.”
Ministers reviewed progress on the Defense Readiness Roadmap, including the formation of Capability Coalitions focused on areas like air defense and drones. Concrete projects are expected in the first half of the next year.
Kallas specifically commended Finland for advancing the “Eastern Flank Watch” initiative, a flagship project aimed at coordinating investment in collective defense.
Finally, she stressed the importance of speeding up the Military Mobility Package, a crucial component for rapid troop deployment. “Military mobility is a crucial insurance policy for European security, and we need to speed up,” she concluded.
