Kallas Summarizes EU Defense Ministers' Discussions On Ukraine

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said this at a press conference following an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Ireland, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

“Besides equipment, Ukraine needs modernized military training bases. Earlier this year I proposed to finance the modernization of training grounds in Ukraine, and I want to thank all member states, including Ireland, who announced additional financing for this today,” Kallas said.

Among other things, the defense ministers discussed the future of the flagship EUMAM training mission, including the establishment of a coordination group in Kyiv to better integrate lessons learned from the battlefield and strengthen military education, the High Representative said.

Meanwhile, Irish Defense Minister Helen McEntee said that Ireland was contributing €10 million to strengthen military training in Ukraine, adding that Denmark would provide another €3 million.

Kallas also stressed that air defense remains the EU's priority in its efforts to provide military assistance to Ukraine, while noting that ballistic-missile defense weapons are in short supply worldwide.

No EU member state announced any specific commitments today to provide Ukraine with interceptors currently held in their stocks, so discussions will continue.

“Member states are also considering redirecting orders and reaching out to partners. Every interceptor that we provide to Ukraine means that a Russian missile will not hit a Ukrainian school, home or hospital. And any support that we provide to Ukraine strengthens European security,” Kallas stressed.

She noted that the EU had already allocated €8.47 billion in military support to Ukraine this year and would provide more, but“further bilateral support” from member states was also needed.

Asked about the possibility of bringing forward funding for Ukraine that had initially been planned for 2027, Kallas said that such calls were being made to individual member states and that this did not include funding provided under the EU's €90 billion loan to Ukraine.

Read also: Netherlands calls on Europe to develop its own ballistic-missile interceptors

As previously reported by Ukrinform, citing Bloomberg, NATO and EU countries are pressuring Spain and Greece to provide Ukraine with Patriot interceptor missiles needed to repel Russian attacks.

Photo via Kaja Kallas / X

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