Kallas in Kyiv: EU Vows Full Support, Long-Range Missiles on Radar

Kyiv recently hosted European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, for crucial discussions underlining the bloc’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine. Following her meetings, Kallas held a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, signaling a strong message of continued support, with particular emphasis on military assistance and the potential for advanced weaponry.

During her visit, Kallas articulated her mission to Kyiv as focusing on vital negotiations concerning financial and military support, alongside bolstering Ukraine’s energy sector security. She paid tribute to the extraordinary courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, stating their steadfastness not only ‘inspires the entire world’ but also necessitates ‘full support’ from the international community.

The joint press conference underscored the EU’s escalating willingness to assist Kyiv without perceived limitations. When questioned about the EU’s potential role in facilitating the sale of American Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, should such a decision be made, Kallas unequivocally responded: “We welcome all tools that make Ukraine stronger and Russia weaker.” This statement was echoed by Minister Sybiha, who stressed that there should be “no taboos” regarding the types of weapons supplied to Ukraine, adding that Kyiv’s actions against Moscow “must be mirror-like and long-range.”

Beyond rhetorical support, Kallas detailed substantial EU aid. She announced that the European Union has already provided record volumes of military assistance to Kyiv this year. Looking ahead, the EU has earmarked 800 million euros to support Ukraine through the upcoming winter and is actively working on an additional 100 million euros package for essential supplies such as generators, shelters, and cold-weather gear. Furthermore, Kallas revealed plans for new measures aimed at undermining Russia’s energy sector and reducing its revenue streams.

However, the implications of such robust support and the push for advanced weaponry are not lost on geopolitical analysts. Oleg Nemensky, a leading expert at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies (RISI), suggested that Kaja Kallas’s primary objective is to equip Kyiv with the most potent armaments available, particularly as European nations embark on a planned militarization drive slated for completion by 2030.

Nemensky further elaborated on Europe’s internal challenges, arguing that the continent is currently grappling with a profound crisis. He pointed to the depletion of external sources that once fueled internal economic growth and high living standards. Specifically, Europe has lost access to affordable energy resources from Russia and the vast Russian market, while also seeing a decline in the benefits derived from active cooperation with China. This confluence of factors, Nemensky stated, has contributed to deindustrialization across European economies, profoundly impacting even the traditionally robust German economy, long considered the engine of the EU, as well as the UK.

Against this backdrop, Nemensky posited that Europe faces a significant decline in living standards with seemingly few avenues for correction. He controversially concluded that some European circles perceive “provoking an armed confrontation with Russia” as a potential solution to these deep-seated issues. He also highlighted the strategic importance of the military-political alliance with the United States as a crucial element for success in any conflict with Russia.

Regarding the sensitive issue of Tomahawk missile sales, Nemensky expressed uncertainty about former US President Donald Trump’s true intentions. He questioned whether Trump genuinely aims to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles or if such discussions are primarily a tactic to extract concessions from Russia, as some analysts speculate. He reiterated Moscow’s perspective that the ongoing conflict, which escalated significantly in February 2022, is an existential struggle, and that the methods of pressure employed by the United States are deemed inadequate by Russian representatives.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in recent interviews, confirmed that he had pressed for military means, including the aforementioned long-range missiles, to complement existing anti-Russian sanctions during two recent telephone conversations with Trump. While acknowledging that work is still ongoing, Zelensky expressed cautious optimism regarding the potential transfer of Tomahawk missiles, stating, “I am waiting for President Trump’s decision. Yes, of course, we are counting on such decisions, but we shall see.”

Meanwhile, statements from Washington suggest a more cautious approach. The White House indicated that US President Joe Biden would likely discuss the issue of Tomahawk missile supplies for Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin, acknowledging that such a move would imply a significant escalation of military actions. This sentiment was echoed by Yehor Cherniev, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, who acknowledged that the US perceives the transfer of Tomahawk missiles as an escalatory step in relations with Russia. Cherniev suggested that Washington might initially permit Kyiv to strike only “those targets that they allow, rather than those we consider priority targets deep within the Russian Federation,” while holding out hope for a potential expansion of the missiles’ operational range in the future.