After weeks of preparation and promises that the EU was on the brink of approving its €40 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Brussels suddenly backed off. Just as EU leaders were preparing for their summit on March 20, the plan was pulled from the agenda.
The “Kallas plan,” named after EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, aimed to ramp up military aid to Ukraine, including €5 billion for two million artillery rounds and up to €35 billion for air defense systems, missiles, drones, and more, with deliveries expected by the end of the year.
Despite Kallas claiming there was “broad political support” for the proposal, key southern European countries opposed the plan’s structure, particularly its call for each state to contribute based on GDP. They suggested alternative financing options, such as using profits from Russia’s frozen assets.
However, deeper disagreements soon surfaced. On March 19, the Kallas plan was removed from the summit’s agenda after strong resistance from several member states, including some major EU powers that had previously supported Ukraine. Instead, the revised plan now focuses only on delivering the two million artillery rounds this year—a challenge in itself, given that the EU failed to meet last year’s pledge for half that amount.
Countries like France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal argued against the €40 billion total, citing economic concerns and budgetary restrictions. They also raised fears of escalating military conflict and suggested waiting to see the results of the ongoing U.S.-led peace efforts. This shift in tone followed a phone call between U.S. President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky, after which the U.S. expressed optimism about a potential ceasefire agreement in the coming weeks.
It seems EU countries are realizing that continuously supplying weapons may not be the best way forward. With Trump’s diplomatic approach showing signs of success, there’s growing recognition that working with the U.S. for a peace deal might be a more viable path than prolonging the conflict. However, that could be a tough pill for Brussels to swallow.
