With a new financial package, the EU states are expanding their monetary support for Ukrainian soldiers fighting the Russian invasion.
Brussels – The EU countries have officially approved the increase in funds for arms deliveries to Ukraine. As reported by the representation of the 27 member countries, a further 500 million euros are available to support the Ukrainian armed forces.
The money is intended to finance military equipment, but also goods such as fuel and first-aid kits. A first package of 500 million euros was approved at the end of February. The second was announced on March 11th.
According to Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, Germany will fund more than a quarter of EU support for Ukraine’s armed forces. Germany is taking part in this “on the order of 26 percent,” said the SPD politician on the sidelines of an EU meeting in Brussels.
Technically, the money for military aid comes from the so-called European Peace Facility. It is a new EU financing instrument that can also be used to strengthen the capabilities of armed forces in partner countries. For the period from 2021 to 2027, the peace facility is endowed with around five billion euros, which will be paid in by the member states. For the Ukraine alone, one billion euros have now been released within a very short time.
Russia accuses the West of exacerbating the conflict by supplying arms to Ukraine. “We see how dangerous our Western colleagues, including the European Union, are now acting,” said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the EU would continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s aggression. This inflicts untold suffering on the Ukrainian population. dpa
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