European Union on Monday, January 23, granted new funding of 500 million euros for supplies of armaments and military equipment to Ukraine, and allocated 45 million euros for the training of Ukrainian soldiers in the EU, it said.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Ukrainian soldier firing an AT4 antitank grenade launcher (Picture source: AFU)
EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels agreed to release these two allocations funded by the European Peace Facility, following a videoconference interview with their Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kouleba. This amount brings to 3.6 billion euros the military financial aid to Ukraine financed with the European Peace Facility (EFF), to which must be added the bilateral financing of the Member States on which not all communicate.
On December 12, 2022, it was announced that European Union foreign ministers had agreed to put another two billion euros into a fund used to pay for military support for Ukraine. The fund had been largely depleted after almost ten months of war since Russia's illegal invasion. The ministers said further top-ups were also possible: "We will assist Ukraine in repairing its energy system," EU High Representative Josep Borrell told the EU Foreign Affairs Council, "we will increase our electricity exports to Ukraine; we will continue working to ensure accountability for all involved in this war in order to make impunity impossible". Ministers were also planning to discuss a ninth package of sanctions on Russia, as well as new sanctions on Iran over its crackdown on anti-government protests.
Ukraine: EU launched Military Assistance Mission in 2022
On November 15, 2022, the European Council launched the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) to continue supporting Ukraine against the ongoing Russian war of aggression. The aim of the mission, formally established on 17 October, is to enhance the military capability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to allow them to defend Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders, as well as to protect the civilian population. EUMAM Ukraine has a non-executive mandate to provide individual, collective and specialised training to up to 15,000 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel over multiple locations in the territory of EU member states. The Mission Commander would be the Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), Vice Admiral Hervé Bléjean.
Furthermore, the Council adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) worth €16 million to support the capacity building of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the EUMAM Ukraine. Both EUMAM Ukraine and the assistance measure were designed based on Ukraine’s operational requirements and will finance the provision by EU member states of:
* ammunition, military equipment and platforms designed to deliver lethal force
* transportation, custody and maintenance and repair of the equipment financed through the assistance measure
The assistance measure would have a duration of 24 months, and added to the successive EU contributions for Ukraine under the EPF, which now amount to more than €3.1 billion.
The European Union reiterates its support to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and its legitimate right to defend itself against the Russian aggression. The EU stands firmly with Ukraine and will continue to provide military, economic, social and financial support for as long as it takes.
Background
On 17 October 2022, the Council adopted a decision establishing EUMAM Ukraine with an initial duration of two years. The mission is a direct response to Ukraine’s request for support addressed to the High Representative. It intends to provide individual, collective and specialised training to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, as well as coordination and synchronisation of member states’ activities delivering the training.
The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 to finance all Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) actions in the areas of military and defence, with the aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability. In particular, the European Peace Facility allows the EU to finance actions designed to strengthen the capacities of non-EU countries and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters. Previous assistance measures under the EPF for Ukraine were agreed on 28 February, 23 March, 13 April, 23 May, 21 July, and 17 October 2022.
