The bloc has promised Kiev extra money regardless of the continuing opposition from Budapest
The EU will take into account a €5 billion army help bundle for Ukraine for 2024, the bloc’s overseas coverage chief Josep Borrell stated in Kiev on Monday. Hungary’s veto on the present €500 million “European Peace Facility” fund has not but been withdrawn, nonetheless.
“I’ve proposed a brand new multi-annual bilateral allocation of the European Peace Facility, as much as 5 billion for subsequent yr,” Borrell stated at a joint press convention with the Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmitry Kuleba. “I hope we are able to attain an settlement earlier than the top of the yr.”
He didn’t point out the destiny of the present EPF funds, which Hungary has been holding up since Could. Based on EuroNews, Borrell made no reference to Budapest’s place, saying solely that the EU assist for Kiev would proceed “in all dimensions.”
Hungary’s Peter Szijjarto was conspicuously absent as 26 different members of the bloc despatched overseas ministers for a shock assembly in Kiev, supposed as a present of assist for Ukraine within the battle with Russia. A deputy represented Budapest, in keeping with EuroNews.
“The EU stays united in its assist for Ukraine,” Borrell insisted on the press convention. “We stay united. I don’t see any member state reneging in its dedication to assist Ukraine with the instruments we have now.”
When requested in regards to the specifics of that assist, Borrell stated the EU would “do extra of the identical.”
The EU has despatched Ukraine greater than €25 billion ($26.4 billion) in army help since February 2022, whereas the entire quantity of army, monetary, and humanitarian assist has reached €85 billion ($89.8 billion), Borrell revealed on Sunday. He additionally vowed that the bloc would proceed aiding Kiev it doesn’t matter what occurred in Washington. The US Congress on Saturday handed a decision avoiding a authorities shutdown that didn’t embrace new funding for Ukraine.
“We can not below any circumstances permit America’s assist for Ukraine to be interrupted,” US President Joe Biden stated on Sunday, urging each Democrats and Republicans to “get this completed.”
The Pentagon has about $1.6 billion left of the $25.9 billion Congress had allotted to aiding Ukraine, however is utilizing the cash to replenish US army stockpiles, two officers advised Politico on Monday. An earlier “accounting error” has freed up one other $5.4 billion value of weapons and ammunition from the US arsenal, below a Presidential Drawdown authority.
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