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 emphasized the need for member states to continue providing military and financial support, highlighting that despite previous commitments, hundreds of thousands of munitions remain undelivered.
Kallas noted that a million shells are “available now” through a Czech-led initiative, addressing concerns over the sharp decline in the bloc’s military assistance to Ukraine since summer. The Czech Ammunition Initiative, launched in 2024, aimed to fund large-caliber rounds for Ukraine but faced scrutiny. Investigations revealed that Czech companies involved in procurement charged commissions up to four times higher than Ukrainian state agencies, while some shipments arrived late or 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 by Kallas in March, initially backed by €40 billion in military support, which was later reduced to €5 billion due to internal opposition. Despite this, ammunition deliveries remained central to the final plan.
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 and risk escalating tensions with NATO.
