EU plans €40 billion military aid plan for Ukraine ahead of summit

European Union member states are making significant progress on a new military aid package for Ukraine worth up to €40 billion ($43.7 billion), just days before a leaders’ summit later this week. The initiative, which is seen as vital to providing Kyiv with essential military supplies, gained substantial backing during a meeting of the EU’s foreign ministers on March 17.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, confirmed that there was “broad political support” for the initiative, noting that discussions over the finer details were ongoing, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The package, initially discussed last month, could deliver up to two million rounds of artillery ammunition this year, as well as air defence systems, precision strike missiles, drones, and other weaponry. The proposal also includes efforts to bolster Ukrainian military brigades and industry.

EU members have been in discussions about the €20 billion military aid plan for Ukraine since last month, and the initiative is seen as a key part of the ongoing effort to support Ukraine in its negotiations for a US-brokered peace deal with Russia. The plan would allow for both in-kind and cash contributions from willing member states, with each country encouraged to contribute according to its economic size.

Despite the broad support, there are some countries that have raised concerns. France and Italy have requested more time and additional details before committing fully to the plan. Hungary has consistently opposed providing any form of aid to Ukraine, whether military or otherwise.

One diplomat suggested that the aid package could also serve as a means of applying pressure on those countries that have contributed less to Ukraine’s needs compared to northern and eastern European nations.

The plan will be discussed further by EU leaders at their summit in Brussels on March 20. However, sources indicate that a final decision is unlikely to be reached this week.

By Vafa Guliyeva