EU leaders urged to back Ukraine with weapons boost

EU Foreign Policy chief urges EU leaders to pledge 5 billion euros for artillery shells for Ukraine amid divergences.

European Union Foreign Policy chief Kaja Kallas urged EU leaders on Thursday (March 20, 2025) to pledge 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) for artillery shells for Ukraine to strengthen its hand in peace talks, amid divergences over how to bolster Kyiv and the EU's own military capabilities.

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Arriving at an EU summit in Brussels, Ms. Kallas called on leaders to match words of support for Kyiv with deeds, as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes ahead with his efforts to end the war, including through a rapprochement with Russia.

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Ms. Kallas has scaled back a proposal to pledge up to 40 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine this year, with each country contributing according to its economic size, after resistance from some countries, particularly in southern Europe.

She told reporters she was now focusing on what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he needs most urgently, such as 2 million artillery shells at a cost of 5 billion euros.

"We should at least start to have a really concrete step - not only words, but also in deeds that we are helping Ukraine right now. Because the stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are behind the negotiation table," Ms. Kallas said.