The European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas has said that the EU is ready to use “every lever” to carry out rearmament and be ready for the “defence of Europe.”
Kallas said the European Union must “step up our support to Ukraine” and we must mobilise our “EU budget.”
She said, “It’s time we rearm, reequip and stand ready for Europe’s defence. We will use every lever we have – from adapting fiscal rules for defence spending, to mobilising our EU Budget, to new loans for joint procurement of equipment.
“We must also step up our support to Ukraine.”
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said that now the US has suspended all military aid to Ukraine the EU must act quickly to increase defence spending and continue to support Kyiv to guarantee their security.
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Prevot said on X, “Exceptional times require exceptional responses. The fact that the US are suspending their military aid to Ukraine calls on the EU to rapidly boost its defense spendings to keep supporting Ukraine and ensure its own security.
“We need to ramp up the long-awaited by our allies – investments and reach a strategic autonomy.”
The European Commission is putting forward the ReArm Europe plan to establish concrete plans for a stronger and safer Europe.
Prevot added, “Those efforts are necessary, it’s obvious. At the same time, they should not impact other critical sectors for the well-being of our societies, and we should make sure we keep a sustainable budgetary trajectory.
“The Belgian government will discuss those proposals swiftly. Together, we are stronger.”
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has said it is important to continue with the transatlantic ties for there to be a path to peace in Ukraine, and that Europe must strengthen their own defence.
Valtonen said, “We in Europe have a unique opportunity to take charge of our own future. This does not mean that we would do this at the expense of our transatlantic ties. On the contrary, by starting to better bear our own weight, we strengthen the partnership that is so important for both sides of the Atlantic.
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“I expect the meeting in Brussels this week to result in concrete and significant commitments for additional EU support for Ukraine, as well as decisive steps towards strengthening European defense… We have reached a point where decisions cannot be symbolic – they must have consequences. Let me be absolutely clear: if we do not act now, we will pay a much higher price later.”
She continued, “The transatlantic partnership has historically been strong – and it must remain so. President Trump is certainly right that we in Europe must do more for our own security.
“But for both the US and Europe to achieve peace in Ukraine and strengthen transatlantic security, we must build peace through the strength of alliances.
“This applies to security and defense, as well as global economic and technological competition,” she said. The Finnish Foreign Minister noted that the benefits of any agreement that may emerge from the negotiations launched between the US and Russia will not be assessed on the day of signing – they will be judged daily from then on.
“To make sure that the agreement is a good one, the US will need us, the Europeans. The transatlantic partnership and the role of the UK.”
“Together, the EU and the UK have a GDP almost ten times larger than Russia. We have the means. Whether we have the political will is a matter of priority, and no priority is higher than ensuring the safety of our citizens. By doing more than Europe, we also demonstrate through our actions our value as a reliable, indispensable transatlantic partner,” the minister added.
