EU foreign ministers discuss Ukraine military aid proposal

European Union foreign ministers are expected to discuss a proposal brought forward Thursday by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to spend up to €20 billion ($22.4 billion) on weapons, ammunition, and other military aid for Ukraine over four years.

DW reports citing EU officials and diplomats that Josep Borrell proposed adding an annual contribution of up to €5 billion for Ukraine into an EU-managed fund called the European Peace Facility.

The fund has already disbursed over €5 billion in support to Ukraine since February of last year. If approved, the additional funding would span from 2024 to 2027, ensuring a more stable and sustainable supply of military aid to Ukraine.

Borrell had previously called for a new funding mechanism called the "Ukraine Defence Fund," emphasizing the importance of maintaining Ukraine's security during and after the conflict. The Peace Facility would reimburse EU countries for a part of their expenses when providing weapons, ammunition and military aid to countries outside the EU.

According to officials and diplomats, the proposal will only be discussed briefly and should be decided at a later meeting at the end of August in Spain. EU governments are also set to consider a separate proposal from the European Commission, which seeks to provide €50 billion in economic aid to Ukraine over the same four-year period.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent reelection and his turnaround in Sweden's NATO membership bid are also set to be part of the EU foreign minister's discussions. Turkey played a crucial mediating role in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and is currently working to revive a United Nations-brokered grain deal.

According to Borrell, Russia was responsible for a major global food supply crisis, the EU's foreign policy chief said days after the Kremlin announced it would suspend the agreement for Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea.

Before heading into the foreign ministers meeting, Borrell told journalists that "what we already know is that this is going to create a big and huge food crisis in the world…". He also claimed that Russia had deliberately attacked grain storage facilities in the southern port city of Odessa, which he said would further deepen the food crisis.