Chief of EU diplomacy proposes a €20 billion defence support plan for Ukraine

The European Union’s defence ministers met in Toledo, Spain, to consider long-term financial support for the Ukrainian military in 20 billion euros.

The ministers are considering a €20 billion ($22 billion) plan by EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell to allocate €5 billion yearly for weapons and training programs for 2024-2027.

Josep Borrell proposed to EU states a €20 billion defence support plan for Ukraine

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said the goal is to put EU military support for Ukraine on a more structured basis and move away from the ad hoc payments made under the European Peace Fund.

“This should continue after the war, no matter what happens. It has to continue to rebuild and provide security guarantees to Ukraine”.

Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Ukraine has received 5.6 billion euros in military aid from a budgetary mechanism separate from the EU budget, which reimburses EU member states for supplying weapons to Ukraine and other non-EU countries.

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, expressed readiness to discuss options to speed up the supply of artillery shells to Ukraine under the EU plan.

EU states provided Ukraine with 224,000 artillery shells and 2,300 missiles

The EU’s top diplomat noted that the EU member states have jointly transferred approximately 224,000 artillery shells and 2,300 missiles from their stockpiles.

At the same time, work in other areas – contracts with private companies and the expansion of domestic production – continues.

Answering whether he was concerned about the slow progress in supplying artillery shells to Ukraine, Josep Borrell said that the EU would consider Slovakia’s proposal to modernize outdated shells.

EU plan to deliver to Ukraine one million rounds of ammunition

In March 2023, the EU Council approved a three-track plan to supply Ukraine with one million artillery shells. It includes the following steps: 1) supplying from its stockpiles, 2) signing contracts with private companies, and 3) expanding domestic shell production.

The two-billion-euro plan envisages providing Ukraine with one million rounds of ammunition within 12 months. Ukraine needs much ammo during an extended period to repel Russian invasion troops and liberate occupied territories as the war continues over 18 months.

Josep Borrell also said that the EU would fulfil its goal of training 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the end of October, so he offered to increase their number to 40,000.