The EU wants to provide another 500 million euros for the supply of weapons and equipment to the Ukrainian armed forces. This was announced by EU Council President Charles Michel on Monday after consultations with the foreign ministers of the EU states in Brussels. With the new support, EU funds for military assistance made available to Ukraine will increase to 2.5 billion euros.
“Europe stands by Ukraine,” Michel wrote in a Twitter message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A first package of 500 million euros was approved at the end of February, followed by three more in March, April and May. According to EU information, the money will be used to finance weapons, but also items such as personal protective equipment, medical supplies and fuel.
For example, the fourth package earmarked EUR 490 million for weapons and ammunition and EUR 10 million for equipment. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell named artillery pieces and armored vehicles as concrete examples of planned arms deliveries.
The funding comes from the so-called European Peace Facility – a new EU financing instrument that can be used to strengthen armed forces in partner countries. For 2021 to 2027, it is endowed with 5.7 billion euros (5 billion euros at 2018 prices). According to Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD), Germany finances around a quarter.
