In a significant announcement ahead of the European Union Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministers’ meetings in Brussels, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell revealed that the total value of European military assistance to Ukraine has now reached an impressive €27 billion.
Borrell underscored the ongoing commitment to support Ukraine in its ongoing conflict.
Speaking to reporters, Borrell emphasized the importance of not forgetting Ukraine, where conflict continues to affect the lives of its citizens.
He highlighted that the military assistance provided by the EU to Ukraine has reached a historic high of €27 billion, marking a substantial commitment to Ukraine’s security.
“We continue to train the Ukrainian army and stand by Ukraine,” he stated.
However, Borrell did not specifically address the next installment of military aid to Ukraine, which is set at €500 million, or the long-term military support of €20 billion over the next four years.
Additionally, there is the matter of overall financial assistance for the period 2024-2027, which amounts to €50 billion.
These issues are expected to be discussed during the meetings of the European Group’s foreign and defense ministers on Monday and Tuesday, though a unified decision by EU member states on these matters is yet to be reached.
The backdrop to these discussions includes Russia’s recent memorandum to NATO member countries concerning arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any shipment of weapons to Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused NATO countries of “playing with fire” by providing Ukraine with weapons.
Furthermore, Lavrov argued that the United States and NATO are directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, not only by supplying weapons but also by training individuals in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and others.
These developments highlight the delicate balance and complexities surrounding the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the role of European nations and NATO in providing support to the Ukrainian government.
