Irish News - Ireland and EU May Need to Increase Financial Support for Ukraine

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has warned that Ireland and other EU member states must prepare to provide greater financial and military aid to Ukraine if the United States withdraws its support.

Harris stated that Europe will need to step up its commitment, emphasizing:

"Europe is going to need to provide more financial assistance to Ukraine, and Ireland will need to be part of it."

A special European Council meeting later this week is expected to clarify how much additional support Europe may have to provide.

Concerns Over Trump-Zelensky White House Clash

Harris described yesterday’s tense exchanges between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as "deeply unsettling".

The high-profile dispute, which saw Trump pressuring Zelensky to negotiate with Russia and cutting short their minerals deal meeting, has sparked concerns in Europe over US-Ukrainian relations and the future of American military support.

Harris noted that since the incident at the White House, he has spoken with other EU Foreign Ministers, and believes:

"European solidarity for Ukraine is even stronger than before."

He reaffirmed:

"Europe has absolute clarity of thought—we stand with Ukraine, we support Ukraine, and there can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine."

Europe Must Take a Leadership Role in Supporting Ukraine

The Tánaiste stressed the need for Europe to define what peace looks like, moving beyond rhetoric and focusing on long-term stability.

"Everybody wants to see peace, but we need to ensure it is a just and sustainable peace, not one dictated by revisionism or misinformation about Russia's brutal and illegal invasion."

With US support for Ukraine now uncertain, EU leaders may soon have to increase financial and military backing to ensure Ukraine can continue defending itself against Russian aggression.

The European Council meeting later this week will be critical in determining how the EU plans to respond to the shifting dynamics in US foreign policy toward Ukraine.