PARIS — Top European defense ministers and EU representatives said Ukraine faces challenging months ahead, insisting they must keep supporting Kyiv despite the U.S. bid for talks with Russia. "The new diplomatic push is there, but it's also clear that Putin's actions tell a different story," the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at a press conference in Paris on Monday. Kallas said she was expecting a "brutal winter" for Kyiv and that there was "no hope for imminent peace," reiterating the need to help Ukraine "withstand the attacks and increase the cost for Russia." Kallas, along with European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, joined a meeting with defense ministers from the E5 group made up of France, the U.K., Germany, Poland and Italy, hosted at the French armed forces ministry.
The meeting came amid a renewed U.S. effort to push Ukraine into peace talks with Russia and growing doubts about Washington's support for Kyiv. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said last week he would offer Russia's Vladimir Putin direct talks with President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy to secure a ceasefire. "No results whatsoever comes for those who want to negotiate with Putin," German defense minister Boris Pistoripus said.
It doesn't lead to anything. There is no signal whatsoever that Putin is looking for peace." The U.K.'s Wes Streeting added: "While none of us seek confrontation with Russia ... We do have to be aware of the threat posed by Russia." While pledging "total transparency" with the U.S., France's Catherine Vautrin said the E5 members would "work together concretely," focusing on arms production and interoperability.
"Produce more, produce faster, produce equipment suited to today’s conflicts – but we must already be planning for the conflicts of tomorrow," Vautrin said. "On that, EU financial initiatives can help us move in this direction."
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