EU states' foreign ministers agree €5bn in arms aid to Ukraine for 2024

Foreign ministers of the EU member states have adopted a final decision to allocate an additional €5 billion for military support to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has attended the meeting of EU foreign ministers.

"The meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, attended by Ukraine's foreign minister, reached a final decision to allocate an additional €5 billion for military support to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility. The minister expressed his gratitude to his colleagues for this step," the statement said.

In addition, Kuleba extended his gratitude to Czechia for the timely initiative to purchase artillery ammunition for Ukraine and to all EU member states that contributed to its implementation.

"I urge those still contemplating contributing to do so as soon as possible. This applies not only to the Czech initiative but also to several other similar projects. Every day matters," the minister stressed.

Last week, EU permanent representatives supported a €5 billion increase in the European Peace Fund, which finances arms supplies to Ukraine.

The Financial Times reported that a solution could be reached through a compromise in which priority would be given to weapons produced in the EU, with the option of purchasing them in third countries in extreme cases.

Since 2022, the EU has been providing military assistance to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility, which reimburses member states for weapons provided to Ukraine.

Funding is provided in tranches that can be blocked by individual member states. In recent months, this has been done by Hungary, which refused to approve a €500 million replenishment of the European Peace Facility under various pretexts.