Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence Helen McEntee said the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers is a chance to focus on urgent priorities and unlock areas where Europe is stuck.
Speaking in Druids Glen, County Wicklow, McEntee said ministers would hear directly from Ukraine’s defence representative about the situation on the ground and what Kyiv needs now from the European Union.
She stressed that the European Peace Facility must be unlocked, because Ukraine urgently needs more defence capabilities and more air support.
McEntee said Ireland’s own funding, announced over the summer, is specifically directed toward air capabilities, but warned that Ukraine needs support on a much larger scale.
She also said Europe must make progress on the European security loan and unlock more support for Ukraine as quickly as possible.
McEntee described the summer as devastating, with many innocent civilians killed, and warned that Russia continues to target Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
Her message was clear: Europe cannot allow deadlock to delay support. Ukraine needs air defence, funding and capabilities now — before winter makes Russia’s attacks on civilians and infrastructure even more dangerous.
#eudebates #McEntee #Ukraine #EUDefence
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence Helen McEntee said the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers is a chance to focus on urgent priorities and unlock areas where Europe is stuck.
Speaking in Druids Glen, County Wicklow, McEntee said ministers would hear directly from Ukraine’s defence representative about the situation on the ground and what Kyiv needs now from the European Union.
She stressed that the European Peace Facility must be unlocked, because Ukraine urgently needs more defence capabilities and more air support.
McEntee said Ireland’s own funding, announced over the summer, is specifically directed toward air capabilities, but warned that Ukraine needs support on a much larger scale.
She also said Europe must make progress on the European security loan and unlock more support for Ukraine as quickly as possible.
McEntee described the summer as devastating, with many innocent civilians killed, and warned that Russia continues to target Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
Her message was clear: Europe cannot allow deadlock to delay support. Ukraine needs air defence, funding and capabilities now — before winter makes Russia’s attacks on civilians and infrastructure even more dangerous.
#eudebates #McEntee #Ukraine #EUDefence
