EU High Representative Kaja Kallas made statements on Ukraine, European defense and maritime security following the meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels. Kallas recalled that funding had been approved to enable Ukraine to purchase U.S.-made PAC-3 missiles.
Noting that missile production takes time, Kallas indicated that EU countries could send missiles from their own stocks to Kyiv. She also announced that agreement had been reached on the first step of a strategic review concerning the extension by two years of the mandate of the EU Military Assistance Mission, which provides training and advice to Ukrainian soldiers.
Kallas said a coordination unit would be established in Kyiv to strengthen military training. She said progress had been made on financing the modernization of two military training centers in Ukraine, and stated that operations against the “shadow fleet” should continue in coordination to reduce Russia’s capacity to finance the war.
Protocol for attacks outside NATO
Kallas said they were working with ministers on an “emergency security protocol” following the meeting in Brussels, adding that the arrangement was intended to establish a coordination mechanism against “gray-zone” attacks.
The protocol is expected to focus on steps EU countries could take in response to actions that do not fall under NATO’s Article 5 and do not constitute an armed attack. Kallas said the mechanism needed to complement NATO and would enable the EU to respond more strongly to Russia’s hybrid attacks.
Kallas said it was too early to provide details on how the protocol would operate, adding that work on the issue needed to be carried out with member states as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. She said many member states had stressed that the mechanism must be fully complementary to NATO.
Kallas said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had proposed such a protocol so that the bloc could establish a joint response if an EU country that is not a NATO member were subjected to a hybrid attack.
Europe’s defense preparedness and maritime security
The meeting addressed the European Defence Agency’s report on Europe’s state of defense preparedness. Kallas said Europe needed to rearm more rapidly and effectively to achieve its 2030 defense targets.
Kallas said European defense investment required a decisive shift in scale and speed in terms of capability development, innovation and industrial capacity. She announced that a proposal for the European Defence Agency to take on a greater role in joint procurement and innovation had been accepted.
Kallas said they had also discussed freedom of navigation with the ministers, emphasizing that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Black Sea had effects extending beyond the regions concerned.
Kallas said two EU countries had signaled that they would provide additional support to the bloc’s Aspides mission in the Red Sea, noting that the mission did not have a mine-clearing role. She said there was a need for frigates, air defense support and vessels capable of escorting commercial ships.
Operations against the shadow fleet
Kallas said the EU’s IRINI maritime operation in the Mediterranean had carried out boarding operations in recent months involving six vessels identified as belonging to the shadow fleet.
Kallas said she had received information from German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul about his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and alleged that Lavrov had made sarcastic remarks after the meeting. Kallas argued that this showed Russia was not interested in peace.
