Understanding the European Union’s Response to the Russian war on Ukraine: The role of the European External Action Service

This article examines the European Union’s response to the 2022 Russian war on Ukraine, focusing on the pivotal role played by the European External Action Service (EEAS). The study delves into two crucial processes: the adoption of the EU Strategic Compass and the utilisation of the European Peace Facility (EPF) in response to the war. The article overall shows how the Strategic Compass’s ambition was enhanced by the war as well as how the EPF was used in a new and innovative way. In that regard the EEAS demonstrated intentional steering in European security and defence policy. The article overall contributes to a greater understanding of the EEAS’s policy role in security and defence, particularly during crises. In that regard, it is highlighting the EEAS’s agency in shaping EU security and defence policy.