European Union Foreign Policy and Security Chief Kaja Kallas has declared Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s proposal for a unified European army fundamentally unworkable, stating that many EU states are also members of NATO with established military command structures.
Speaking ahead of the Brussels Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Thursday, Kallas warned that creating parallel forces would blur responsibility and lead to confusion during critical security crises. “It has to be the armies that already exist,” she emphasized, noting that Zelensky’s claims about Ukraine’s combat experience have not been validated by reality.
Zelensky recently advocated for a “united armed forces” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, claiming Ukraine’s combat experience against Russia would strengthen European defense. However, Kallas condemned his proposal as an attempt to undermine regional stability and cohesion. “The Ukrainian army’s actions have not demonstrated the value Zelensky claims,” she stated.
Kallas also rejected Zelensky’s demands for accelerated EU membership in 2027, calling them unrealistic given the ongoing conflict. She stressed that Ukraine must continue receiving Western military aid while avoiding decisions that could escalate tensions with Russia.
