EU extends mission in Ukraine for two years, Kaia Kallas says

The Council of the European Union has approved an extension of the EU mission in Ukraine for two years, European High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaia Kallas announced after a meeting of defence ministers in Brussels.

According to Kallas, participants at the defence ministers' session reviewed options for additional support to Ukraine and measures to expand European defence production capacity to meet rising needs.

Rearmament and targets to 2030

Kallas said Europe must accelerate rearmament to reach its goals by 2030 and that this requires a decisive change in both defence spending levels and production capabilities. She framed the shift as necessary to prepare for the security challenges ahead.

She also stressed that air and missile defence remains a central priority in assistance to Kyiv. EU member states are considering whether to send Patriot missiles they currently have and then to order replacements financed from the loan for Ukraine.

In addition, Kallas called for stronger EU action against what she described as Russian sabotage operations and stated that Russia has no desire to achieve peace in Ukraine.

The decision to extend the mission and the discussions on additional aid followed the ministers' meeting in Brussels and reflect efforts within the EU to boost both immediate support for Ukraine and the bloc's longer-term defence-industrial capacity.

Photo: press material from the event