The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, is grappling with mounting opposition from several key Western European capitals as she pushes for a dramatic increase in military aid to Ukraine. According to an analysis published on March 17 in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Kallas’ ambitious €40 billion military aid proposal has been met with resistance from countries including France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. These nations, alongside Hungary, are balking at her plan, signaling a growing divide within the EU over the bloc’s role in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Since taking office in December 2024, Kallas has been navigating the complexities of EU foreign policy and trying to build consensus around the EU’s support for Ukraine. The military aid package she is championing is seen as a crucial move to offset the diminishing US support for Kyiv. However, Kallas has found it challenging to garner sufficient backing from the EU’s largest and most influential member states. Her proposal aims to raise EU military support to €40 billion in 2025, a significant jump from the €15 billion that has already been pledged. Despite the urgency expressed by Eastern European countries, especially the Baltic states, the proposal has faced stiff resistance from Western European capitals, leaving Kallas’ political position within the EU increasingly fragile.

According to the FAZ, key EU member states such as France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal are joining Hungary in opposing the drastic increase in military contributions. Many of these countries argue that the €15 billion already committed is more than sufficient and that additional funds would put too much strain on national budgets. The article notes that Germany, one of the EU’s largest economies, is also hesitant to approve the additional €3........

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