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BRUSSELS: The European Union has agreed to provide 5 billion euros ($5.48 billion) in military aid to Ukraine as part of a revamp of an EU-run aid fund, Al Jazeera reported.
In a move to increase military support for Ukraine’s military fighting the Russian invasion, the EU has vowed to do whatever it takes to help Ukraine win.
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said: “We succeeded. #Coreper has agreed to the #UkraineSupportFund, which will strengthen military support to #Ukraine with an additional 5 billion euros. We can do it. The message is clear: We will support whatever it takes to help #Ukraine win. ”
Ambassadors from the 27 EU member states agreed to review the European Peace Facility (EPF) funds at a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday after months of wrangling, Al Jazeera reported. Germany became the center of discussion.
The fund operated as a huge cashback scheme, reimbursing EU member states for sending munitions to other countries.
France, which strongly promotes the European defense industry, had advocated a strong “European purchase” policy for weapons subject to rebates.
However, other countries argued that such a requirement would hamper efforts to quickly buy weapons from around the world to Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera.
Germany has been Europe’s largest donor of military aid to Ukraine and has demanded that its contributions be taken into account when determining how much each country contributes to the fund.
Diplomats said they had finally reached a compromise by allowing flexibility in the Buy Europe rules and taking into account some of the value of bilateral aid when calculating member states’ contributions. Stated.
“This is another powerful and timely demonstration of European unity and determination to achieve our common victory,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
“We hope that the final decision will be approved at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.”
The final document states that the plan should prioritize European defense industries, while “allowing flexibility in exceptional cases where this cannot be delivered in a timely manner consistent with Ukraine’s needs.”
Diplomatic officials said the compromise would allow the fund to help finance Czech efforts to buy hundreds of thousands of desperately needed shells from countries outside Europe. .
“Ukraine needs more arms and equipment. We will provide them in sufficient quantities and in a coordinated manner,” Foreign Minister Haja Rabib of Belgium, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said in a statement. .
“Europe is true to its promises. Our freedoms are at stake.”
The European Union’s announcement comes as Kiev’s military is under pressure on the front lines as it faces ammunition shortages, Al Jazeera reported.
Additionally, earlier on Tuesday, the United States announced a new $300 million arms package for Ukraine, although an additional $60 billion in funding remains blocked by Republicans in Congress.
According to Al Jazeera, the EU is working to further increase the production of arms and ammunition by its defense industry, but two years after the start of the war, it is still struggling to increase production.
In a move to increase military support for Ukraine’s military fighting the Russian invasion, the EU has vowed to do whatever it takes to help Ukraine win.
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said: “We succeeded. #Coreper has agreed to the #UkraineSupportFund, which will strengthen military support to #Ukraine with an additional 5 billion euros. We can do it. The message is clear: We will support whatever it takes to help #Ukraine win. ”
Ambassadors from the 27 EU member states agreed to review the European Peace Facility (EPF) funds at a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday after months of wrangling, Al Jazeera reported. Germany became the center of discussion.
The fund operated as a huge cashback scheme, reimbursing EU member states for sending munitions to other countries.
France, which strongly promotes the European defense industry, had advocated a strong “European purchase” policy for weapons subject to rebates.
However, other countries argued that such a requirement would hamper efforts to quickly buy weapons from around the world to Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera.
Expanding
Germany has been Europe’s largest donor of military aid to Ukraine and has demanded that its contributions be taken into account when determining how much each country contributes to the fund.
Diplomats said they had finally reached a compromise by allowing flexibility in the Buy Europe rules and taking into account some of the value of bilateral aid when calculating member states’ contributions. Stated.
“This is another powerful and timely demonstration of European unity and determination to achieve our common victory,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
“We hope that the final decision will be approved at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.”
The final document states that the plan should prioritize European defense industries, while “allowing flexibility in exceptional cases where this cannot be delivered in a timely manner consistent with Ukraine’s needs.”
Diplomatic officials said the compromise would allow the fund to help finance Czech efforts to buy hundreds of thousands of desperately needed shells from countries outside Europe. .
“Ukraine needs more arms and equipment. We will provide them in sufficient quantities and in a coordinated manner,” Foreign Minister Haja Rabib of Belgium, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said in a statement. .
“Europe is true to its promises. Our freedoms are at stake.”
The European Union’s announcement comes as Kiev’s military is under pressure on the front lines as it faces ammunition shortages, Al Jazeera reported.
Additionally, earlier on Tuesday, the United States announced a new $300 million arms package for Ukraine, although an additional $60 billion in funding remains blocked by Republicans in Congress.
According to Al Jazeera, the EU is working to further increase the production of arms and ammunition by its defense industry, but two years after the start of the war, it is still struggling to increase production.
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