EU FAC Defence: Kallas Chairs Emergency Session on Ukraine Aid (€63B), Threat Analysis, and €90B Defense Loan

On May 12, 2026, EU defence and foreign ministers convened in Brussels for the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) — the EU institutional counterpart to NATO's emergency Helsingborg pre-planning. Chaired by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas with NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska participating and Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov joining via VTC, the session reviewed an updated EU Threat Analysis, EU total military support for Ukraine (€63B total, €25B in 2025 alone), and debated a proposed €90B EU defense loan (€60B defense-targeted, contested on 'Buy European' conditions). Hungary's blocking of €6.6B in European Peace Facility funds left €43B in member-state reimbursements unresolved. Ministers discussed expanding EUMAM military training inside Ukraine post-truce and Kallas emphasized support to Lebanese Armed Forces. The EU-track session — running in parallel with NATO's 10-day Helsingborg pre-brief window — confirmed that both institutions are now operating simultaneously in emergency mode, with Article 42.7 operationalization (mandated at the April 24 Cyprus summit) as the EU's structural vehicle for post-US contingency architecture. Kallas: 'For Europe to take a more active role, we must agree amongst ourselves what we want to talk to Russia about and what our red lines are.'