European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, stated that the EU is ready to take the lead in supporting Ukraine if the US decides to withdraw its support, according to Politico.
Her claims come ahead of a meeting of Ukrainian allies in Ramstein, Germany, amid speculations that the new US administration under US President-elect Donald Trump would halt the work of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group, established after the beginning of Russia’s all-out war.
“I’m really sure that all the other members, and hopefully also the United States, are ready to continue with the support to Ukraine,” said Kallas.
The official stressed that the European Union would be ready to assume this leadership role if the US does not, Agence France Presse reports.
Kallas emphasized that there should be no speculation about future US support as it “is not in the interest of America that Russia will be the strongest force in the world.”
Her comments contrast with those of her predecessor, Josep Borrell, who last year remarked that “Europe cannot fill the gap” when it comes to supporting Ukraine.
Earlier, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was also present at the Ramstein format meeting, challenged the perception of Russia’s dominance in the war, highlighting complex difficulties facing the Kremlin’s military ambitions.
“They’ve gone to DPRK, to Iran to get assistance, weapons, and munitions and also now people,” Austin noted.
He also emphasized the significant logistical challenges Russia would face in maintaining control over occupied territories of Ukraine, saying that “Russia will have to invest a lot of land forces to hold it.”
Read more:
- “Russians will 100% break any ceasefire in Ukraine,” Republican pundit warns
- Kellogg wants to broker Russia-Ukraine peace deal within 100 days of Trump inauguration
- ISW: Russians make marginal advances near Toretsk, Kurakhove, deploy more fiber-optic drones