Brussels, December 2, 2025 – European Union defense ministers concluded a critical meeting in Brussels on Monday with a unified message: Europe must dramatically and rapidly bolster its own military capabilities because Russia, under Vladimir Putin, cannot be trusted to abide by any lasting peace deal.
Speaking to journalists after the Foreign Affairs Council in its defense configuration, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas was blunt: “Everyone agreed that Europe must continue to boost its own defences. We do not have much time to act. Putin is unlikely to honour any agreement for long.”
The gathering took place against the backdrop of intense U.S.-led diplomatic activity. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff had just wrapped up talks with Ukrainian officials in Florida and is expected in Moscow as early as Tuesday. Many European leaders fear Washington may push for a quick settlement that forces major concessions from Kyiv, potentially freezing the conflict on Russia’s terms.
Kallas stressed that only a militarily strong Ukraine can secure a just and sustainable peace. “The logic is very simple: the stronger Ukraine is on the battlefield, the stronger they are at the negotiation table,” she said, adding that continued robust military support would also speed up the end of the war by convincing Putin he cannot outlast Western resolve.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the European Union and its member states have provided more than €187 billion ($217 billion) in total assistance to Ukraine – far exceeding the contribution of any other international partner. This includes over €63 billion in direct military aid, with another €25 billion committed for 2025, and tens of billions more in financial, humanitarian, and refugee support.
A central topic in Brussels was the proposed reparations loan backed by approximately €185 billion of frozen Russian sovereign assets, most of them immobilized at the Belgium-based clearing house Euroclear. The mechanism would allow Ukraine to borrow up to €140 billion at little or no interest to fund its defense and reconstruction, with repayment due only when Russia eventually pays formal reparations for the destruction it has caused.
Kallas described the plan as “the most viable option” and insisted that Russia bears clear legal and moral responsibility. “Russia owes reparations for the damages they have caused to Ukraine, and using the frozen sovereign assets is the right basis for it,” she said. While Belgium has expressed serious reservations – citing potential legal risks and financial exposure for the eurozone – Kallas urged the bloc to share those risks collectively so the loan can move forward.
Ministers also voiced growing alarm over possible shifts in international pressure. Kallas warned that, in the absence of unwavering European and transatlantic support, the burden to make concessions could fall disproportionately on Ukraine. “I am afraid that all the pressure will be put on the weaker side, because that is the easier way to stop this war – when Ukraine surrenders,” she said. “But this is not in anybody’s interest – not Ukraine’s, not the European Union’s, and not global security’s.”
She invoked the UN Charter’s prohibition on changing borders by force and warned of dangerous precedent: “If this pays off for Russia, we will see it elsewhere around the world. Whoever has the power will simply take what they want – and that is not good for the majority of countries on this planet.”
Another emerging concern raised during the meeting was the sharp increase in hybrid threats from Belarus. Lithuania recently reported dozens of meteorological balloons launched from Belarusian territory that have repeatedly violated its airspace, disrupting more than 170 civilian flights in October alone and causing millions of euros in economic damage. EU officials regard these incidents as deliberate provocations orchestrated by the Lukashenko regime in coordination with Moscow. Kallas confirmed that the EU is actively considering additional countermeasures, including further sanctions.
The Brussels discussions fed directly into the bloc’s ambitious Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 and the recently unveiled Military Mobility Package, both designed to enable faster troop movements, strengthen air and missile defenses, and close critical capability gaps – especially along the eastern flank.
Despite lingering differences – notably Hungary’s frequent reluctance to endorse new sanctions or funding measures – the tone among most ministers was one of urgency and resolve. Several participants described the current moment as a potential turning point: either Europe steps up decisively to fill any vacuum left by a possible U.S. pivot, or it risks seeing the continent’s security architecture undermined for generations.
As Kallas concluded: “Every euro we spend on schools, hospitals, and welfare is only safe if we also invest in strong defenses. History has shown again and again that weakness invites aggression. We cannot afford to learn that lesson the hard way one more time.”
