EU to train 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers, provide 30 billion euros in weapons

Accordingly, Spain's El Pais newspaper quoted the head of the European Union (EU) foreign policy agency Josep Borrell as saying that the EU and its member states have provided Kiev with ammunition and weapons worth 30 billion euros and trained nearly 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers in the conflict with Russia.

“The EU and its member states have provided unprecedented economic, humanitarian and military assistance, supplying Ukraine with ammunition and weapons worth nearly 30 billion euros and training nearly 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers on EU territory,” said Josep Borrell.

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. (Photo: AP)

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine helps strengthen “transatlantic solidarity,” according to the head of the EU's foreign policy agency.

“However, we often react too slowly in providing the necessary weapons to Ukraine and only act when Russia shows signs of moving forward,” Mr. Josep Borrell admitted.

"To move forward, the EU needs to change its paradigm, moving from supporting Ukraine 'as long as necessary' to committing to 'whatever it takes' to achieve victory," Josep Borrell stressed.

At the EU summit in Brussels on December 14-15 last year, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked the EU’s 2024-2027 budget proposal, which would have provided 50 billion euros to Ukraine. Hungary proposed providing financial aid to Kiev in annual steps and with strict spending controls. Budapest also called for using off-budget sources of funding, rather than borrowing from the bloc.

The EU is considering an additional $21 billion in military aid to Ukraine despite opposition from Hungary. According to the Wall Street Journal, the European External Action Service (EEAS) is drafting a new plan to provide military assistance to Ukraine that would allow EU members to override Hungary’s veto on the bloc’s aid to Kiev.

Under the plan, EU members will provide Ukraine with more than 20 billion euros ($21.8 billion) in military aid over the next four years.

In addition, the EEAS is proposing to create a special military fund for Ukraine, including about 6.5 billion euros ($7 billion) from the extra-budgetary assets of the European Peace Fund (EPF) and providing up to 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) per year from 2024 to 2027.

European Council President Charles Michel hopes EU leaders will agree on financial aid for Ukraine by early 2024. An extraordinary EU summit will take place in early February next year, where the EU will discuss long-term financial aid for Ukraine.

Kong Anh (Source: TASS)

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