EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for stepped-up international pressure on Russia to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, speaking on 24 July 2026 at the launch of the Kyiv-Manila Strategic Dialogues in the Philippines. Kallas argued that Russia's aggression is a global problem, not just a European one, and urged Manila to join a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
Kallas noted that May and June 2026 were the deadliest months for Ukrainian civilians since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, but said Ukraine is now in a stronger military position, with a technological advantage and the ability to share knowledge with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. She highlighted the war's global impact, including disrupted food and energy supplies, higher inflation, and diverted resources from trade and climate efforts. The Philippines and Indonesia lost over half their wheat supply from Ukraine, she said, while Vietnam faced an estimated €1.5 billion in lost imports of corn, fertilizers, steel, and coal.
Kallas reiterated the EU's commitment to supporting Ukraine "for as long as it takes," citing a major EU-Ukraine drone initiative announced the previous week. She framed the war as a test of international law, urging support for the International Criminal Court and inviting the Philippines to join a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The event marks the first Kyiv-Manila Strategic Dialogue, underscoring the Philippines' role in engaging with Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.