Ashraf AboArafe
Brussels – 1 December 2025
On a crisp Brussels morning, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrived at the Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), carrying a firm message that reflects Europe’s deep anxiety about the trajectory of the war in Ukraine and its broader security implications.
Kallas to EU Defence Ministers:
She underscored that today’s meeting focuses on two central priorities:
- Strengthening support to Ukraine, and
- Reinforcing Europe’s own defence readiness and capability building.
“It is clear that Russia does not want peace,” Kallas said, “and therefore we need to make Ukraine as strong as possible, so they can stand up for themselves in this very difficult time.”
A Potentially Defining Week for Diplomacy
Kallas noted that this could be a pivotal week, with signals from the United States that talks there were “difficult but productive.” She is set to meet both Ukraine’s Defence Minister and Foreign Minister today to gain a clearer understanding of the latest developments.
Press Q&A – Direct Answers in a Time of Uncertainty
Do you trust the Americans to find a good solution for Ukraine?
Kallas replied that Ukrainians are currently standing alone, and that joint European presence would have made them stronger. Nonetheless, she stressed her confidence that “Ukrainians will stand up for themselves.”
What can Europeans do to reinforce Ukraine’s position at the negotiating table?
She outlined a twin-track approach:
- Increase pressure on Russia through further sanctions and advancing the “reparations loan,” which Moscow fears significantly.
- Maintain military, financial, and humanitarian support to ensure Ukraine can endure and outlast Russia.
Belgium still has concerns about the reparations loan—why do you consider it viable?
Kallas said Belgium has “legitimate concerns,” but highlighted that all other Member States are willing to share the risks. She emphasized: “We will not leave the December Council without a result on Ukraine financing.”
You previously spoke about constraints on the Russian army—how small should the Russian military be to make Estonia and Europe feel safe?
She clarified that the EU should not dictate the size of sovereign nations’ armies. “But,” she added, “if pressure is placed on Ukraine’s army—which has invaded no one—there must also be pressure on the Russian army.” She reminded reporters that Russia has invaded 19 countries over the past 100 years, making its large army and vast military budget a continued threat to all its neighbors.
With clear, unapologetic language, Kaja Kallas set the tone for a Europe still wrestling with its security responsibilities—caught between the burdens of war and the distant promise of peace.
