The total of twenty billion would cover Ukraine’s needs until 2027. However, its acceptance is far from certain.
Rikhard HusuEU correspondent
TOLEDO Russia’s attack on Ukraine has been going on for a year and a half, and there is no end in sight. European Union foreign ministers meeting in Toledo, Spain are currently considering ways to increase arms aid in the long term.
There is a total of twenty billion euros on the table, with which the EU countries would commit to support Ukraine over the next four years.
In practice, a separate fund would be created in the EU to replace the donations given to Ukraine by the member countries and to support the training of Ukrainian soldiers in EU countries.
The fund encourages EU countries to send more defense equipment to Ukraine, reimbursing part of the resulting costs.
This is how we are currently acting within the framework of the so-called peace fund. The Peace Fund has already supported Ukraine with almost six billion euros.
The new Ukraine fund would multiply The EU’s share of Ukraine’s arms aid and would give Ukraine long-term guarantees about the continuation of funding from EU countries.
It is also a significant principled step for the European Union, which markets itself as a peace project.
Director of external relations responsible for the preparation of the fund Josep Borrellthat the new fund would be part of the long-term security promises to Ukraine.
Similar promises are also expected from NATO countries and members of the G7 organization of rich industrialized countries.
– [Presidentti] Putin showed no signs that he was ready to end his aggression against the Ukrainians. Therefore, Ukraine needs long-term, sustainable and predictable military assistance, Borrel stated yesterday, Wednesday.
However, the acceptance of the fund is not be preached in the church. Member countries struggling with inflation and rising interest rates have to think about where to get the funds to support Ukraine.
Finland’s calculated share of the new Ukraine fund would be around EUR 400 million. On top of this are the growing responsibilities related to humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Ukraine.
Foreign minister Elina from Valto (collect.) Secretary of State based in Toledo Lauri Tieralan Finland has a positive attitude towards increasing support for Ukraine.
– We hope that the matter would proceed as quickly as possible, Tierala commented to before the meeting of foreign ministers.
The same was emphasized by several other ministers during Thursday’s meeting of foreign ministers. However, it is clear that the EU countries’ financial contributions have their limits, despite the strong solidarity expressed for Ukraine.
External relations director Borrell emphasizes that the annual contribution of five billion euros would form a ceiling for EU arms aid.
The entire second chapter is Hungary, which has become the crown of sorrows for the EU, which is holding back the payments of funds already promised to Ukraine.
The Hungarian-Ukrainian relations are left behind by the listing of the Hungarian OTP bank as a company supporting Russia’s war of aggression. Hungary’s braking eats away at the credibility of the EU as a whole
There is, however, a roadblock to increasing arms aid also other obstacles, even if an agreement is reached on the new Ukraine fund. Increasing weapons production takes time, and the problem is not solved by increasing funding.
EU Commissioner for Industry Thierry Breton has forced defense equipment manufacturers and member countries to commit to increasing production in the long term.
The focus is on increasing the production of artillery ammunition needed in the war of attrition. Ammunition is needed both on the Ukrainian front and in the depleting stockpiles of EU countries.
The EU is also increasing its efforts to train Ukrainian soldiers. The EU has so far trained 25,000 soldiers. According to Borrell, the goal is to train another 15,000 soldiers by the turn of the year.
of Toledo informal meeting of defense and foreign ministers kicks off the tightly planned autumn of EU politics.
Along with the arms aid, the EU has to consider whether Ukraine is ready to start the desired negotiations for full EU membership.
The EU acknowledges that Ukraine, as a country at war, cannot implement all the measures and reforms required of applicant countries. The country has big challenges related to the functioning of the judiciary and the eradication of corruption.
However, the political pressure to accept Ukraine as an official EU candidate country is enormous. This speaks for the fact that the decision to start negotiations will be made later this year.
What thoughts does the story evoke in you? Is EU support for Ukraine sufficient? You can discuss the topic until Friday, September 1, at 11 p.m.