EU ambassadors approve €5 billion to help Ukraine with weapons in 2024

On 13 March, permanent representatives from EU countries agreed on a €5 billion increase in the European Peace Facility, which is used to fund supplies of weapons to Ukraine.

Source: the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "EU Ambassadors agreed in principle on a reform of the European Peace Facility, to support Ukraine with a €5 billion budget for 2024."

The tweet went on to say that the European Union is still determined to provide Ukraine with long-term support and "ensure that the country gets the military equipment it needs to defend itself".

Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, welcomed the agreement and vowed that the EU will support Ukraine with whatever it takes to prevail.

As the Financial Times reported yesterday, a solution could be reached through a compromise in which priority would be given to weapons produced in the EU, with the option of purchasing them in third countries in extreme cases.

Since 2022, the EU has been providing military assistance to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility, which reimburses member states for weapons provided to Ukraine.

Funding is provided in tranches that can be blocked by individual member states. In recent months, this has been done by Hungary, which refused to approve a €500 million replenishment of the European Peace Facility under various pretexts.

At the same time, EU member states are negotiating the establishment of a special €20 billion four-year fund within the European Peace Facility which would be used exclusively to help Ukraine.

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