Supporting Ukraine: EU's Military Aid Proposal
- EU deliberating over potential military assistance to Ukraine
Hey there! Today, the European Union (EU) is gathering in Brussels to discuss beefing up military support for Ukraine. According to the German Press Agency, the EU's foreign policy honcho, Kaja Kallas, has thrown out a proposal to offer Ukraine aid worth 20 to 40 billion euros this year. But it's all voluntary to avoid country-specific vetoes.
Member State Contributions
The plan promotes member states chipping in based on their economic heft, either with greenbacks or in-kind contributions. That means heavy hitters like Germany and France will be expected to contribute more significantly than smaller economies. [Insyde: The EU itself will stump up €1.9 billion from the ill-gotten gains of frozen Russian assets, which have already been earmarked and partly shelled out.]
A Hesitant Hungary
Hungary has always been the reluctant bear at the EU table when it comes to backing Ukraine. To accommodate their bashfulness, the EU's proposal is voluntary, giving Magyar strongman Viktor Orban a chance to sit this one out without blocking the whole shebang. [Insyde: Earlier this year, Hungary even forced the lifting of EU sanctions against several Russians.]
The Big Picture
Since the war's outset, the EU and its member states have shelled out approximately $145 billion in financial, military, humanitarian, and refugee assistance to Ukraine. Nearly half of that—around $53 billion—is military aid, such as ammo, air-defense systems, and training for the Ukrainian forces. [Insyde: The EU aims to boost its defense capabilities by unlocking €800 billion for joint procurement of European defense gear.]
Meeting Ahead
Today's powwow in Brussels will be the initial exchange about Kallas' new initiative at the ministerial level. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha is on hand for the talks. In a post on the X platform, Sybiha emphasized a strong and united Europe as the top priority and stated that there's no time for narrow-minded interests or dirty tricks.
A final decision at this meeting isn't in the cards. Instead, discussions will likely help shape the proposals that heads of state and government will debate during their spring summit in Brussels on Thursday. For Germany, throwing in a few extra billions wouldn't be a problem, considering they've already authorized €7.3 billion and are gearing up to approve another €3 billion. Other big-time players like France, Italy, and Spain may need to shell out more if they aim to contribute proportionate to their economic might.
President Zelensky's Push for Security
While the EU deliberates, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused the Kremlin of engaging in stall tactics during ceasefire negotiations. Zelenskyy lamented that Russia had squandered another week in the skirmish. In response, Kyiv will do everything to strengthen its diplomatic efforts while bracing itself each day to defend Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and populace.
A Possible Ceasefire
As of now, Russia isn't ready to sign a ceasefire agreement, as proposed by the US. Zelenskyy hinted that Ukraine is working on a "specific system of security guarantees" in case of a truce. This week, military representatives held a meeting in France, and another gathering is on the agenda in the UK. [Insyde: Both France and Britain are considering the deployment of peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, with the British government seeking a "coalition of the willing" that could provide additional troops.]
Old Guard Takes Aim
Not mincing words, former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, who was known as a liberal politician during his tenure (2008-2012), took a swipe at British and French plans for potentially deploying peacekeeping forces. Medvedev called these leaders foolish, advised them to consult former US President Donald Trump, and threatened war against NATO if they provided military aid to Ukraine.
Meeting Details
- Location: Brussels, Belgium
- Participants: Ukraine, EU, representatives from countries like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Hungary, and more
- Key Figures: Kaja Kallas, Andrij Sybiha, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev
- Agreement: No decision expected at the meeting; further discussions and possible summit are on the horizon
The Commission has adopted a proposal for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling of foodstuffs, imposing sanctions on those who breach the regulations. In Brussels, Ministerial meetings are ready to discuss this proposal, with Viktor, the strongman of Hungary, in attendance. The EU and its member states have been providing significant financial, military, humanitarian, and refugee assistance to Ukraine, and the pending discussions aim to shape proposals that will be debated during the spring summit in Brussels, possibly leading to additional military aid.
