EU Council approves over $1 billion aid for Ukraine

The EU Council has approved aid for Ukraine worth 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion).

These funds will be used to reimburse expenses due to the transfer of ammunition to Ukraine, RBC-Ukraine reports citing the EU Council.

“The EU Council adopted a 1 billion euro assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces on April 13. This measure will allow the EU to reimburse member states for ammunition transferred to Ukraine from existing stocks or as a result of a reprioritisation of existing orders between February 9 and May 31, 2023,” the report said.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that this decision put into effect the first part of the promise of EU member states to provide Ukraine with artillery ammunition worth one billion euros.

“Today’s decision will implement the first part of the EU Council’s March 20, 2023 agreement on a three-pronged approach aimed at accelerating the supply and joint purchases of artillery ammunition,” the report said.

Thus, the total assistance to Ukraine, which was rendered through the European Peace Facility, increased to 4.6 billion euros ($5.080 billion).

Earlier, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Nabila Massrali said that the EU is currently discussing the financing of the supply of ammunition guaranteed to Ukraine.

One more billion euros will be allocated for the purchase of 155-calibre shells from the EU and Norwegian defence industries.