The EU’s newly appointed top diplomat Kaja Kallas and European Council head Antonio Costa on Sunday visited Kyiv on their first day in office. Costa said to media representatives, “We came to give a clear message that we stand with Ukraine, and we continue to give our full support.”
The European Union‘s fresh leadership aims to demonstrate its unwavering support for Kyiv during a critical period, as Ukraine approaches three years of defending against Russia‘s invasion.
Concerns have emerged regarding future US assistance with Donald Trump’s potential return to office in January, alongside worries about possible forced compromises for Ukraine in pursuit of rapid peace negotiations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has intensified the situation by threatening to target Kyiv’s government buildings with the recently deployed Oreshnik missile, following its first use against Ukraine last month.
Putin claims this action responds to Kyiv receiving authorisation to conduct strikes within Russia using American and British missiles, warning of retaliation against weapons-supplying nations.
Russia has initiated severe attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure as winter approaches, whilst Ukrainian forces face territorial losses against Russian military advances.
Kallas, who previously served as Estonia’s prime minister, observed, “The situation in Ukraine is very, very grave. But it’s clear that it comes at a very high cost for Russia as well.”
The EU’s senior officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, scheduled discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
On Friday, Zelensky began outlining his stance preceding potential peace negotiations. He requested Nato to provide security assurances for Kyiv-controlled regions to “stop the hot stage of the war”, suggesting willingness to delay reclaiming other Russian-occupied territories.
“If we speak ceasefire, (we need) guarantees that Putin will not come back,” Zelensky told Britain’s Sky News.
Kallas emphasised that “the strongest security guarantee is Nato membership.” “We need to definitely discuss this — if Ukraine decides to draw the line somewhere then how can we secure peace so that Putin doesn’t go any further,” she said.
Nato diplomats indicate limited prospects for Ukraine’s immediate membership, given several members’ reluctance to risk conflict with Russia.
Regarding European troops’ deployment to enforce a ceasefire, Kallas suggested maintaining “strategic ambiguity.”
Trump has questioned continued substantial US aid to Ukraine, urging increased European contribution. European support for Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion totals approximately $125 billion, whilst US assistance exceeds $90 billion, according to Kiel Institute data.
Kallas indicated the EU would employ “transactional language” to demonstrate Ukraine’s strategic importance to Trump’s administration.
“Aid for Ukraine is not charity,” she said. “A victory for Russia definitely emboldens China, Iran, North Korea.”
The EU’s foreign policy chief committed to positioning Ukraine strongly for potential negotiations with Moscow, whilst acknowledging increasing difficulties in securing unanimous support among EU members. “This war has been going on for quite some time and it is harder and harder to explain it to our own people,” she noted. “But I don’t see any option.”