EU Plans €40 Billion Military Aid for Ukraine

The European Union is planning a defence initiative for Ukraine, which provides for additional military assistance worth €40 billion, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said in Brussels.

According to Ukrinform, at a press conference following the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Kallas said that the Union should move quickly to implement this initiative so that Ukraine can defend itself against Russian aggression.

The €40 billion defence initiative for Ukraine is supported at the political level, although discussions on the details are ongoing.  

‘There is broad political support for the 40 billion defence initiative in Ukraine. Of course, now the discussion is about the details. During the last European Council, we received a wording that we have to move quickly with this initiative. We have already done some work on this and hopefully we will be able to move forward. Because everybody understands that we have to demonstrate our determination to support Ukraine right now so that they can defend themselves,’ the EU High Representative stressed.  

She noted that European officials positively assessed the results of the talks between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Saudi Arabia. According to her, the ball is now in Russia's court, but the Kremlin is showing an unwillingness to reach peace by setting new conditions.  

‘We see now that Russia does not really want peace. It is also clear that Russia cannot really be trusted. They will use this opportunity to put forward various demands that we have seen before - they demand the fulfilment of the main goals that they set for themselves. So we will see how this develops further,’ Kallas said.  

Answering a question about the possibility of the EU's participation in the negotiations to end the war, she explained that there is currently no real negotiation process, and diplomatic efforts are limited to shuttle diplomacy, as Russia is not ready for a peaceful settlement.  

‘We have discussed this issue (of the EU's involvement in the negotiations - ed.) with our various partners. Right now, there is really a shuttle diplomacy, so there is no real negotiating table. Last week, we also met with our American colleagues and voiced concerns about various elements that could be raised by the Russians, and these concerns should be taken into account. But now, as we see it, there is no negotiating table because Russia has not come to the table,’ Kallas said.  

On 17 March, the EU Foreign Affairs Council took place in Brussels, with the main topic of the meeting being the continuation of assistance to Ukraine and the search for ways to end the war to achieve a just and lasting peace.  

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha joined the discussion via teleconference.

As The Gaze previously reported, on 17 March, the EU Council approved the third disbursement of non-repayable grants and loans to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility programme, worth about €3.5 billion.