EU Secures Funds for Ukraine Artillery, Urges More Support
The European Union has secured roughly two-thirds of the funding needed to deliver two million artillery shells to Ukraine by year’s end, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said on Monday. The announcement comes as European officials push member states to bolster military aid amid waning U.S. support.
An estimated €5 billion is required to meet the ammunition target. "We still don’t have 100%, but we definitely need to move forward," Kallas told reporters following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. "A large majority of member states agreed that we need to do more."
The artillery initiative is seen as the most achievable element of a broader €40 billion defense proposal Kallas presented in March, which EU leaders have yet to fully endorse. So far, commitments from member states include both direct ammunition donations and fresh funding for procurement.
"These are, of course, commitments—but commitments need to be followed," Kallas stressed, urging governments to expedite deliveries. She also called for additional air defense systems to help Ukraine counter Russia’s intensifying attacks on civilians and infrastructure.
Renewed Calls for Sanctions After Sumy Attack
The meeting followed a deadly Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, where allegedly 34 people were killed and more than 110 wounded during Palm Sunday celebrations. The attack has reignited demands for further sanctions against Moscow.
Since February 2022, the EU has imposed 16 rounds of sanctions on Russia, with the latest approved in February. Kallas confirmed that work on a 17th package is underway, with a proposal expected in May.
"If you want the killing to stop, you should put pressure on Russia, which is the one doing the killing," she said.
Discussions are ongoing over whether to target Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, which remain untouched by existing measures. Poland, the Baltic states, and Nordic countries have long pushed for restrictions, given the EU’s €7 billion in Russian LNG imports last year.
"Sanctioning oil and gas would have a bigger effect because that’s how they’re funding the war," Kallas said. However, she acknowledged that unanimous support may be difficult to secure.
Hungary has repeatedly opposed stricter sanctions, and diplomats expect Budapest to resist the next round. Meanwhile, debates continue over how to use frozen Russian assets—estimated at €210 billion—to support Ukraine, with some advocating for outright seizure.
Military Aid and Political Solidarity
Kallas noted that EU members have already contributed over €23 billion in military aid to Ukraine this year, surpassing 2024’s commitments. Separately, German opposition leader Friedrich Merz signaled openness to sending long-range Taurus missiles—a move the Kremlin condemned as a "dangerous escalation."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, joining the meeting remotely, invited EU counterparts to Kiev on Europe Day (May 9). Kallas avoided confirming attendance but stressed the importance of solidarity, adding: "We do not want any candidate country participating in Moscow’s May 9 celebrations."
As Russia’s war enters its third year, the EU faces mounting pressure to deliver both immediate military support and long-term economic pressure on Moscow—all while navigating internal divisions.