The EU is preparing an unprecedented €700 billion aid package for Ukraine. But this is not certain
18 February 2025 14:03
The European Union is working on a new large-scale package of funding for European defense worth about 700 billion euros. All or a significant part of this amount is likely to be earmarked for Ukraine. This is stated in an article by Berliner Zietung, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“The EU is apparently putting together a billion-euro package to buy military equipment for Ukraine,”
– the publication reports. It cites another reputable media outlet, Bloomberg, which reported the following:
“European officials are working on a sweeping new package to boost defense spending and support for Kyiv as President Donald Trump presses for a quick end to the war in Ukraine.”
This information became public after German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock accidentally revealed the details of the plan, which was supposed to be made public only after the February 23rd German elections.
“We will launch a large aid package, which has never been done on this scale before. Just like it was with the euro or during the COVID-19 crisis, there will be a financial package for security in Europe. This will happen in the near future,”
– burbank said in an interview with Bloomberg during the Munich Security Conference.
According to Burbock, peace is possible only through strength, and that is why Ukraine needs firm and long-term security guarantees. She also emphasized the importance of advancing negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. According to her, European countries have already provided over 134 billion euros of support to Ukraine, including 44 billion euros from Germany.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the new European aid package will include military training, accelerated aid, weapons supplies and security guarantees from European partners.
The new assistance package is to be financed through the EU’s common debt mechanism, similar to the financing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision is partly due to pressure from the United States to increase the European contribution to support Ukraine.
According to Bloomberg, some European officials tried to keep this information secret until after the German elections to avoid controversy before the vote.
However, it should be emphasized that Burbock’s quote does not mention the amount of 700 billion euros, nor does it say that this or a similar amount will be provided to Kyiv, and not allocated for the security of Europe as a whole. Therefore, the information about 700 billion euros is likely to be insider information obtained by the Berliner Zietung, or their interpretation of the available data.
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Ukraine and the security of Europe
The Munich Security Conference 2025 came as a real shock to many and a cold shower to European politicians after US representatives voiced their vision of the future security model in Europe and the world. In particular, US Vice President Jay DeVance ‘s speech was about Europe no longer relying on the US security umbrella, as the US will no longer guarantee it. The Europeans were also told that Ukraine’s security after the truce with Russia will also be on their shoulders, as it concerns European affairs, from which the United States is withdrawing.
And now the United States does not even “physically” see Europe at the table with Russia.
Against this backdrop, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the creation of the European Armed Forces.
Europeans were shocked by this turn from the United States. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was the first to recover, saying that his country “can and will” send its contingent to Ukraine as a peacekeeper if a truce with Russia is concluded.
on February 17, French President Emmanuel Macron urgently convened the heads of “leading European states” to form a common position on this issue. However, it was not achieved. As it turned out, Britain, France, and Sweden are in favor of sending peacekeeping contingents to Ukraine, while Germany, Poland, and Spain are against it.
