Ukraine is asking its partners in the European Union to direct 6.6 billion euros ($7.5 billion) available under the European Peace Facility to military aid, to take advantage of what it considers a six-to-nine-month "window of opportunity" on the battlefield. Reuters reports, writes UNN.
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Ukraine's total defense needs this year are estimated at approximately 136 billion euros, of which about 53 billion is covered by the Ukrainian budget, said Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in a letter reviewed by Reuters.
Ukraine is expected to receive about 28.3 billion euros this year for defense needs under the EU's 90 billion euro loan, but even with these funds and Kyiv's own financing, "significant" defense funding needs remain unmet, according to the letter dated June 26.
Fedorov noted that funds from the European Peace Facility could become "one of the most influential European contributions to Ukraine's defense efforts this year, but only if these resources are directed where they can have the greatest and fastest military effect."
Russia's advance this year has slowed: Ukraine is conducting successful counterattacks in certain sections of the front and is using medium- and long-range strikes on Russian territory to disrupt Moscow's logistics and reduce its oil revenues.
Separately, Fedorov said at a press conference on June 17 that he is asking for an additional $20 billion in military funding from the Ukraine Defense Contact Group — an alliance of 50 countries known as "Ramstein" that provides aid to Ukraine — on top of the already committed $40 billion.
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