5 billion euros for shells: EU ministers in Warsaw will discuss Kallas' initiative to strengthen support for Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
In Warsaw, EU defense ministers will discuss Kai Kallas' initiative to strengthen support for Ukraine. In particular, it concerns the allocation of 5 billion euros for artillery shells.
Defense ministers of the European Union member states will discuss the initiative of the bloc's chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, to strengthen EU support for Ukraine at an informal meeting in the capital of the EU presiding country, Poland, on April 2-3, amid her proposal to allocate EUR 5 billion for artillery shells for Ukraine, the Polish Defense Ministry said on Monday, UNN writes.
Details
The head of the Polish Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, will co-chair the meeting of the Informal EU Foreign Affairs Council with the participation of defense ministers (FAC) together with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in Warsaw on April 2-3, and will participate in the EU Security Forum on the European Defense White Paper.
As stated, the informal council will focus on the European Union's position in the new international situation. Opportunities for deepening cooperation between countries, as well as prospects for strengthening the transatlantic partnership and the situation in Ukraine, will be discussed.
The ministers will discuss military support and possible security guarantees for Ukraine in light of recent political and military developments. The meeting will also be an opportunity to exchange views on the High Representative's initiative to strengthen EU support for Ukraine, opportunities to deepen cooperation between the defense-industrial complexes of Ukraine and the EU, as well as cooperation with NATO and other partners.
Recall
On March 17, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that the EU is discussing details of new assistance for Ukraine at the level of up to EUR 40 billion.
On March 20, Kaja Kallas said ahead of a special bloc summit that if the EU cannot decide right now on aid to Ukraine for the entire next year, amid a proposal for aid of up to EUR 40 billion, then work is underway right now on a EUR 5 billion plan for ammunition for Ukraine, which she called "realistic".
On March 20, at the EU summit, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine needs funds for artillery shells, and Kyiv would be grateful for European support of at least 5 billion euros in the shortest possible time.
At the same time, Bloomberg reported that discussions in Brussels at the March 20 summit showed that allocating EUR 5 billion for the purchase of 2 million artillery shells would not be an easy task. And that efforts by EU leaders to provide EUR 5 billion to secure ammunition for Ukraine this year were delayed by France and Italy.