Bypassing Hungary: The EU is working on a new mechanism for military assistance to Ukraine
14 March 2025 18:31
The EU proposes to create a voluntary fund of up to $40 billion for military assistance to Ukraine. This decision should circumvent Hungary’s potential veto.
Euractiv writes about this with reference to the text of the project, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
It is noted that Brussels has developed a plan to create a fund that provides military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 20 to 40 billion euros. The package includes, among other things, 2 million pieces of ammunition, including large-caliber artillery shells.
Participation in the fund will be voluntary to avoid blocking by Hungary, which refuses to support initiatives in favor of Ukraine through EU channels.
A preliminary version of the proposal was made public last month. It envisaged the supply of 1.5 million rounds of ammunition, but did not contain specific funding amounts. The updated document calls on EU countries to provide at least €20 billion in military support this year, and up to €40 billion if necessary.
The first step is to allocate €5 billion to purchase 2 million artillery shells this year.
Each country will contribute to the initiative in proportion to its economic weight, either by providing funds or direct equipment. The EU is counting towards its contribution €1.9 billion received from excess profits from frozen Russian assets, although these funds have already been partially used.
