EU reaffirms Ukraine's right to set its own military priorities

The European Union has reaffirmed that Ukraine independently determines its military requirements and may request EU funding for the procurement of interceptor missiles and other defence equipment, with such requests reviewed under an accelerated procedure.

European Commission officials made the remarks in Brussels in response to recent comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding a reduction in supplies of interceptor missiles, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

European Commission spokesperson Balazs Ujvari said Kyiv compiles its own list of military requirements based on developments on the battlefield before submitting procurement schedules to the Commission for funding approval. 

Since the beginning of the year, the European Union has allocated €8.5 billion to Ukraine's defence sector through the Ukraine Support Loan mechanism, Ujvari said. The funding is intended to support the procurement and production of fighter aircraft, missiles, and drones.

He noted that priority is given to defence equipment produced within the European Union and Ukraine, while existing procurement rules also allow purchases from non-EU suppliers when operational needs require.

The European Commission said additional funding packages will be announced once new procurement plans receive approval, stressing that work on military assistance to Ukraine is continuing "without a summer break."

Separately, Anitta Hipper, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said Ukraine continues to have an urgent need for additional military assistance, describing continued support for Kyiv as one of the European Union's highest priorities.

Hipper added that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has already called on all member states with available military stockpiles to provide additional equipment to Ukraine as the bloc seeks to sustain its support for the country's defence efforts.

By Vafa Guliyeva