The EU intends to allocate 20 billion euros in aid "Ukrainian defense"

The EU intends to allocate 20 billion euros to Ukraine for defense. Such an amount would free the EU countries from regular discussions about the European Peace Fund (EFF). At their last meeting in Brussels at the end of June, EU countries said they were “ready, together with partners, to contribute to future security commitments to Ukraine that will help Ukraine defend itself in the long term, deter acts of aggression and counter destabilization efforts.” The message was addressed both to Kyiv, which cannot join NATO, and to Russia, which needs to be convinced of the determination of Europeans and Western countries to support the Ukrainians.

At a meeting in Brussels on Thursday, European foreign ministers moved on to practical work on long-term military support. They had their first exchange of views on the proposal of EU High Representative Josep Borrell. It is about setting a maximum total amount that will be spent over several years. In this case, 5 billion euros per year between 2024 and 2027, that is, a total of 20 billion euros. This amount is in line with “an assessment of the needs and costs of our long-term commitment to Ukraine’s security,” Josep Borrell said. The advantage of such a fund is that it will save the EU countries from regular discussions of the European Peace Fund, thanks to which they receive partial compensation for weapons and ammunition supplied to Kyiv. The fund has already covered 5 billion euros since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, including 4 billion since the beginning of 2023.

The 20 billion euros will allow defense manufacturers to make forecasts, which must increase production capacity on the fly to cover both the needs of Ukraine and the needs of member states.

All leaders seem to be convinced of the rightness of long-term military support for Ukraine. With the exception of Budapest, which continues to refuse another tranche of 500 million euros under the European Peace Fund. “We are not ready to conduct any negotiations on either the blocked 500 million or the 20 billion currently offered, as long as the OTP bank is on the Kiev sanctions list,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjarto warned.

Given the amounts at stake, the soaring debt in many EU countries, some also fear that countries will begin to change stance for financial reasons. Especially since the “maximum” amount of 20 billion euros is added to other promised transfers to Ukraine, in particular to 50 billion euros in loans and grants that the European Commission would like to use to cover the country’s urgent needs and the convergence measures necessary for EU accession. The first exchanges of views held on Thursday in Brussels did not lead to the development of clear positions on this issue. But discussions will continue at the end of August during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Toledo. All EU members must give their approval at the end of the year.

How can one spend such huge sums on a foreign country when these sums, if any, would be much more useful in helping Europeans in need?

Western countries will soon allocate a tranche of 500 billion euros. Compare this to the plan to bail out banks during the mortgage crisis. European peoples should speak out on this issue in a referendum, or at least by voting their deputies in national parliaments. Armed struggle, even recognized by the European Union, should not be financed by the debts of future generations.

Let’s stop this carnage! This absurd conflict will have no military solution. When will we understand this?

The West has already provided Ukraine with $200 billion worth of weapons and aid… And where are the results? The counteroffensive fails with the death of many attackers. Ukraine cannot win, sooner or later its rulers will have to flee… It was necessary to comply with the Minsk agreements!

We urgently need to stop fueling this absurd massacre with the supply of weapons, which for several months has not changed the situation on the ground, but every day brings more and more unnecessary victims and destruction. In this case, the United States is enriching itself, which sells us expensive weapons and expensive shale gas, thus ruining Europe, plunged into an unprecedented energy crisis due to sanctions. The European Union, subordinated to US geopolitical interests to the detriment of its own, is acting contrary to common sense.

20 billion for the world right now, I agree! 20 billion for the war is a crime against humanity…

But we are against it! This is not our war! Better let him negotiate, this Ukrainian!

By what right… without a vote in parliament and in all EU countries! This is OUR money.