EU Chief Diplomat: €27 Billion Extended to Ukraine in Military Aid, Largest Support Yet

13 November, 2023 Flags of the EU and Ukraine. Illustrative photo The European Union explained how much money it spent on military aid to Ukraine.

According to the EU chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, this amount has already reached EUR27 billion. He announced this on Monday, before the start of a meeting of the European Union's Council on Foreign Relations. "Our support (for Ukraine - ed.) is growing.

I can tell you that our assistance to Ukraine has reached EUR27 billion in military assistance. This is the largest figure we have ever reached," Josep Borrell stressed. He emphasized that the European Union will continue its support to Ukraine as the war against the Russian invaders continues.

Josep Borrell.

Photo from open sources

"We continue to train Ukrainian soldiers. We continue to stand by Ukraine," Borrell said. Back in the summer, it became known that the EU was planning to create a special fund to finance Ukraine's defense over the next four years, amounting to up to EUR20 billion.

The proposal would not involve the EU directly paying for Ukraine's weapons. Money from the fund will go to allied nations to cover their costs of purchasing and transferring property from their own stocks. It could be ammunition, missile weapons, armored vehicles, etc.

Funding will also be able to cover the training of the Ukrainian military.

Production of DM121 155mm artillery shells. Photo credits: Rheinmetall

However, in November, Reuters news agency reported that a European Union plan to spend up to EUR20 billion on military aid for Ukraine faced resistance from some EU countries and may not survive in its current form. EU defense ministers prepare to discuss the plan in Brussels on Tuesday.

However, according to Reuters, multiple countries, including EU heavyweight Germany, have voiced reservations about committing such large sums years in advance.

EU officials emphasize that long-term military assistance should be coordinated with defense aid packages negotiated by individual EU countries with Kyiv.

Some members of the European Union also argue that it will be difficult for them to make large, long-term commitments due to internal budget constraints.