the Foreign ministers of the EU countries have a further 500 million euros for the delivery of weapons and equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces approved. This was announced by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday evening after a meeting with ministers in Brussels. This increases the EU funds available for military aid to Ukraine to two billion euros.
A first package over 500 million euros had already been approved at the end of February, with two more following in March and April. According to EU information, the money will be used to finance personal protective equipment, fuel, but also weapons for defense. According to Borrell, the additional 500 million euros will be used to provide artillery pieces and armored vehicles, among other things.
Funding 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 The peace facility is endowed with around five billion euros for the period from 2021 to 2027. According to Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD), Germany finances around a quarter of the EU support.
The formal legal act for the additional 500 million euros will probably be adopted in the next few weeks. Before that, among other things, the Bundestag must agree to the increase in funds. Borrell announced the new funds last Friday.