Broader support among EU states to expand military mission in Ukraine, says EU foreign policy chief

ISTANBUL

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Friday that there is “broad support” among member states to expand the bloc’s military mission to provide training and advice inside Ukraine after any truce.

Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen following an informal meeting of EU defense ministers, Kallas underlined that Moscow’s latest attacks on Kyiv showed Russia’s refusal to pursue peace.

"I welcome that there is broad support today to expand our EU military mission mandate to provide training and advice inside Ukraine," she said.

“It is clear, because Russia responds to these peace efforts with missile attacks. Wednesday's attack on Kyiv shows how deliberate the choice of Russia is to escalate and also mock the peace efforts,” she added.

Kallas said security guarantees for Ukraine would need to be “robust and credible” to prevent a repeat of 2022.

“We are the largest provider of training to Ukraine’s military. We have trained over 80,000 soldiers so far, and we must be ready to do more. This could include placing EU trainers in Ukraine and military academies and institutions,” she noted, adding that the bloc’s civilian mission could also strengthen Ukraine’s resilience against Russian hybrid attacks.

She emphasized that Europe must be prepared to act jointly.

“Europe will fully pay its part,” she said, pointing to the need for greater coordination with the “coalition of the willing” and for the EU to take the “lion’s share” of responsibilities in security guarantees, with the US providing the backstop.

She also noted that the bloc’s military and civilian operations will continue to be evaluated.

“We can review the mandates, if necessary, and also review the impact for the times to come,” Kallas said.

On energy security, she drew attention to the contradiction of Europe still buying Russian fuels.

“We are the main buyers as European countries, different European countries, of the fossil fuels that actually fuel this and this war. So this is, in the end, the target; the goal of the European Union is to get rid of the Russian fossil fuels. And, of course, any attacks on European soil we always condemn.”

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen also said Ukraine required urgent support.

“Ukraine needs more military support, and they need it right now. We do not have time on our side, and the costs if we are not acting now will be much more substantial in the longer term,” he said.

Poulsen highlighted Denmark’s “model” for supporting Ukraine’s defense industry, which invested about €600 million last year and is expected to reach between €1.3 and €1.4 billion (between about $1.52 billion and $1.64 billion) this year.

“Ukraine’s defense industry is producing very fast compared to European companies. They are able to produce in months, not years,” he said.

He added that Denmark will soon invite the first Ukrainian defense company to start production inside the country.

“Hopefully, in some weeks from now, we will invite the first defense company from Ukraine to start up production here in Denmark in a safe environment. I also expect that more Ukrainian defense companies will follow later this year.”

Kallas said discussions on EU defense readiness would continue ahead of the October European Council, noting that record defense spending would only be effective “if it delivers real capabilities, and only if we do it together.”