Informal assembly of defence ministers: press remarks by Excessive Consultant Kaja Kallas after the assembly

Check in opposition to supply! 

We simply concluded a productive assembly with European defence ministers. Thank you, Troels, as soon as once more, for internet hosting us right here in Copenhagen. 

We had three predominant points as we speak on the agenda. First, the defence of Ukraine. Second, European defence readiness. And third, EU navy missions and operations. 

So first, Ukraine. The previous weeks, we have now seen diplomatic efforts to finish Russia’s warfare. It is evident that Europe desires peace. America desires peace. Ukraine desires peace. Who doesn’t need peace is Russia. 

It is evident, as a result of Russia responds to those peace efforts with missile assaults. Wednesday’s assault on Kyiv exhibits how deliberate the selection of Russia is to escalate and likewise mock the peace efforts. President Zelenskyy has clearly expressed already a number of months in the past to be prepared for the talks. But Putin is stalling by any means doable, and due to this fact Ukraine must be supported by navy goals. This stays essential. 

The EU and our Member States have already supplied over €63 billion in navy help to Ukraine because the warfare started, and in 2025 €25 billion. I welcome that a number of EU Member States have made new pledges simply within the final days – support to Ukraine saves lives.   

We should proceed to step up. The European Peace Facility can present funding to help this effort. It can reimburse Member States for weapons bought for Ukraine, together with for supporting NATO’s PURL initiatives, so the continued blocking of the EPF is just not justified. Resolving this swiftly is essential for the work between Europe and likewise United States to help Ukraine. And bilateral points should not block the help. 

Today, Ministers additionally mentioned the European Union’s function in safety ensures, and it’s clear that Europe will totally pay its half. I welcome that there’s a broad help as we speak to increase our EUMAM, navy mission [in Ukraine], mandate to supply coaching and recommendation inside Ukraine after any truce.  

We are the most important supplier of coaching to Ukraine’s navy. We have educated over 80,000 troopers to this point, and we should be able to do extra. This may embrace inserting EU trainers in Ukraine and navy academies and establishments. In parallel, our civilian mission can strengthen Ukraine’s resilience in opposition to Russian hybrid assaults. We also can do extra for Ukraine’s defence trade, however they actually study on the battlefield could be additionally became the energy of Europe. 

We are already the most important investor in Ukraine defence trade, and we might help Ukraine open manufacturing strains right here in Europe and encourage better European funding additionally in Ukraine. Denmark has a number one manner right here, actually commend you on that.  

Going ahead, we are going to intently coordinate with the Coalition of the Willing. Ministers have been clear that the safety ensures for Ukraine should be strong and credible. 2022 should not be allowed to repeat. 

Then, European-owned defence. At the June European Council, leaders agreed to extend defence spending and make investments higher collectively. EU Member States recognized 9 precedence areas, equivalent to air and missile defence, drones, and ammunition. Today, Ministers mentioned methods to shut essentially the most pressing functionality gaps, and largely, to do it collectively, to do it collectively. And to be more practical. 

We are figuring out lead nations for every space by October’s European Council, alongside with the roadmap for defence with clear aims and milestones.  

Europe is spending file sums on defence – money issues, however provided that it delivers actual capabilities, and provided that we do it collectively.  

Finally, on European Union, navy missions and operations, over 5000 European personnel serve worldwide as we speak. They keep safety and security within the Balkans, defend delivery within the Red Sea, and likewise fight piracy within the Indian Ocean. These missions are very important to world safety. 

Today, Ministers mentioned the methods to make sure these missions higher help European Union geopolitical pursuits. Where we will have most impact, the place we can not. How we should always make these operations actually work along with the companion international locations to handle their wants, in order that we’re in a position to evaluate the mandates, if needed, and likewise to evaluate the influence for the occasions to return.  

Many essential matters, and it was a very good dialogue. Thank you, and I’m able to take your questions. 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-275993 

 

Q&A. 

Q. We have simply obtained data that Israelis are declaring Gaza a fight zone and suspending all of the pauses humanitarian insurance policies agreed to this point. I would love you to offer us a response, as a result of it might influence the discussions tomorrow. And secondly, that is for each of you. When you say that the EPF will also be used for the PURL initiative, so precedence purchases for US man-made arms for Ukraine. Do you hope that that is going to spin the story in a manner that maybe a sure Member State will lastly deblock one thing that has been blocking for ages now? Thank you. 

Thank you.  

I need to say that we had the conferences all day with out the telephones, so I really obtained this data additionally simply seconds in the past earlier than coming right here. I’m not able to touch upon this. It is definitely not making issues any simpler or higher, however I may also look into this. 

Now, in terms of the PURL initiative, then it’s true that within the EPF, we have now €6.6 billion blocked, and we have now provided to our Hungarian colleagues alternative ways out, choose out, like they’ve in NATO additionally. Different prospects that aren’t a part of the authorized support or something of a kind. But it has not been, we have now not been, efficient to this point. Now we have now the PURL initiative, which implies that shopping for weapons from America, if we may unblock this 6.6 billion, as additionally our completely different colleagues are fairly often additionally Hungarian colleagues, referring to President Trump’s efforts – that is precisely what’s it for. So, if we may unblock by this, and the 6.6 billion may very well be used within the PURL initiative, then it may positively make a distinction. And all of the international locations as we speak have been elevating this difficulty of unblocking. You wouldn’t have to be a part of it, however let others then do it. 

 

Q. I’ve been taking a look at one thing referred to as the Baltic defence line, an enormous venture being made within the Baltic international locations, defending them in opposition to the doable Russian aggression. They are money strapped. They are in search of additional funding. They are asking the EU for help and funding. Will they get that? 

Well, there are a number of, a number of factors right here. First, what we mentioned as we speak can also be the joint tasks and the place Member States can are available in, as a result of the Baltic international locations additionally,  border international locations, have been elevating that they’re form of the gatekeepers of Russia. And that’s the reason it’s in all people’s curiosity to spend money on that. Now we have now additionally the European price range. The Commission has proposed this venture, however this shall be below discussions, first within the Council, however on the similar time within the European Parliament. So sure, there must be extra funding, as it’s positively a gatekeeping to maintain Russia away, however ultimately, it’s upon the choice makers to determine how you can allocate sources. This proposal is there. 

 

Q. You spoke about potential EU trainers on the bottom in Ukraine. Can you simply make clear you made a change of mandate after a possible ceasefire, and might you inform us, do you assume that is in any manner life like? You stated there may be broad help. What does that imply? I imagine you would wish unanimity for this. You simply launched a press release with solely 26 international locations simply principally condemning these Russian assaults which broken the EU mission. If you may’t even get 27 international locations on a fundamental assertion like that, are you able to ever think about getting settlement unanimously on one thing like a change of the mandate for EU trainers on the bottom? 

Well, after we are 27 and 26 are on board, then it’s a broad help. I can say that it’s a broad help. But sure, the dialogue that we had was in regards to the change of mandate. It is a bit additionally rooster and egg points. Like you say, it’s true that we’re speaking about altering the mandate or coaching on Ukrainian soil if there’s ceasefire. So some are saying that we should always do it after, however we will additionally do it conditionally, in order that, we agree already how we alter the mandate, in order that it will be conditional when the ceasefire or truce enters into pressure when it’s really wanted. Now, what we have now to bear in mind is that there’s a Coalition of the Willing for the safety ensures. There is a dialogue with the Americans about their backstop. Americans have been very clear. Europeans should be main right here. So once more, we have to present how we’re taking duty for sure tracks and coaching is has been on Europe, and we’re able to do it on Ukraine and soil as soon as there’s a truce. And then, that is additionally one argument to our mates who’re saying that that truce is essential, peace is essential, however it will possibly solely be simply and lasting if there are credible safety ensures. And one of many components of the credible safety ensures is the EU coaching the navy mission in addition to the civilian mission. 

 

Q. You talked about that the EU is the most important investor in Ukrainian defence. I want to know amongst whom? If the assault is coming from the east, after which from the west the United States spoke about reducing their help to Ukraine, giving the main place, as you simply talked about, to the EU. My different query is that, do you have a look at this announcement from the United States of America to offer the European the main function right here, particularly in terms of the Russian Ukrainian battle positively or how do you understand this? 

First on the Ukraine defence trade. I used to be saying that Europe has been the principle investor in Ukraine defence trade, and one of many concepts is to additionally carry this trade to Europe, which implies creating jobs right here in Europe as nicely. It is evident that we’d like all to speculate extra in defence. Ukraine has all the teachings discovered from the precise fight; what is required, what works, what doesn’t. So it is usually in the advantage of European Union to have it in in in Europe.  

Now, to your different query. America has been very clear that in this warfare, Europe must be the one who’s doing essentially the most. We are giving essentially the most navy help to Ukraine. We have already performed that. But after we speak about safety ensures, then they’ve been very clear that they’re discussing, and are in a position to present the backstop, if Europeans take the bulk or, like they are saying, the lion’s share. That is the message to us, and that’s what we’re discussing, that we’re in a position to fulfill. To have them on board, then we additionally want to indicate that we’re doing a lot. Am I blissful or not? I’d say that I’d be so blissful if this warfare could be over. 

 

Q. There have been three missile assaults in opposition to the Druzhba crude oil pipeline, which helps at the very least two European Member States. And in January, the European Commission pledged in writing that it will take actions in opposition to assaults like this, however just lately, there may be not an excessive amount of what we will see. Why does the Commission not see it as a direct risk in opposition to European Union Member States and the crucial infrastructure? 

Of course, what we what we have now to bear in mind is that one of the locations the place the Russians get most sources to wage this warfare is oil, fuel, fossil fuels. So due to this fact, the Commission has proposed a roadmap to actually do away with the Russian fossil fuels, as a result of it’s a bit contradictory that we attempt to cease this warfare however on the similar time, we’re the principle consumers, as European international locations, of the fossil fuels that really gasoline this warfare. This is, in the long run, the goal, the objective of the European Union to do away with the Russian fossil fuels. Of course, any assaults on European soil, we all the time condemn. Thank you. 

 

Q. Copenhagen goes to supply secure haven to Ukrainian defence firms. I used to be questioning what sort of weapons have been going are going to be produced right here in Denmark. Also, if some other European international locations have raised their hand and provided to additionally supply comparable secure haven to Ukrainian protection firms. 

On the opposite query, many international locations have indicated that they’re focused on investments to the defence trade, bringing the defence trade to their soil, as a result of it means jobs, and it means additionally prosperity for that nation, contemplating how a lot cash there may be coming to the defence sector. I’m not providing you with concrete names, however when you look by completely different statements, what completely different international locations have made, they’re welcoming the defence trade. Also making element planning for having this trade, as a result of they’ve very concrete circumstances. Definitely welcoming such improvement. 

 

Q. The dialogue on these safety ensures, all of them construct on the concept of American backstop. But when you see the soundness of what President Trump is promising, or saying, can you actually construct on that? In the long run, ought to Europe not discover one other approach to obtain some sort of safety assure for Ukraine. 

Actually, it’s the different manner round. You may say that it is usually what comes first, as a result of the Americans are saying they’re offering the backstop, if we’re taking the lion’s share. So [as] Europeans, what we’re discussing is to take that lion’s share with a view to additionally invite the Americans in. So, not placing the principle burden on the Americans, however inviting them to be a part of it – like we have now these discussions ongoing. That is conditional that we do extra ourselves; and that is solely what we will focus on ourselves, what extra we will do. 

 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-276259