By Ebi Kesiena
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says all member states have agreed on the urgent need to strengthen the bloc’s defenses, warning that Russia is unlikely to respect any long-term agreements.
“Everyone agreed that Europe must continue to boost its own defenses. We do not have much time to act. President Putin is unlikely to honor any agreement for long,” Kallas said on Monday.
She noted that the EU and its member states have so far contributed more than €187 billion ($217 billion) to support Ukraine and emphasized that stronger military assistance will bolster Kyiv both on the battlefield and in future negotiations.
Addressing Belgium’s concerns over a proposed reparations loan backed by Russia’s frozen sovereign assets, Kallas insisted the plan remains “the most viable option” and urged member states to work together to manage potential risks.
“Russia owes reparations for the damage caused to Ukraine, and a loan based on frozen sovereign assets provides the right foundation,” she said.
Kallas also warned that international pressure could eventually shift toward urging Ukraine to concede in negotiations an outcome she argued would ultimately reward Russian aggression.
“I fear the pressure will fall on the weaker side, as that is the easiest way to end the war by pushing Ukraine to surrender. But that is in no one’s interest: not Ukraine’s, not the EU’s, and not global security. The UN Charter is clear that borders cannot be changed by force,” she said.
She cautioned that allowing Russia to benefit from its actions would set a dangerous global precedent.
“If this pays off, we will see similar actions elsewhere. Those with power will feel entitled to take whatever they want, and that is dangerous for most countries,” she added.
Kallas further highlighted what she described as increasing hybrid threats from Belarus, revealing that the EU is evaluating additional measures following Lithuania’s report of meteorological balloons entering its airspace from Belarusian territory.
