The European External Action Service will prepare an analysis of European assistance to Ukraine for an informal ministerial meeting of the EU Defense Council on January 30-31 to facilitate discussions on further support for Kyiv, an EU spokesman said.
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Earlier, the Financial Times newspaper, citing knowledgeable European diplomats, wrote that Brussels is conducting an audit of the weapons provided to Kiev by EU member states; the audit is allegedly taking place against the backdrop of statements that a number of European capitals have sent fewer weapons to Ukraine than they could. However, an EU spokesman said no audit was being carried out and responsibility for supplies lay with member states.
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“In accordance with the conclusions of the EU summit last December and as preparation for the informal meeting of the EU Defense Council on January 30-31 and the special EU summit on February 1, 2024, we intend to analyze the overall military support for Ukraine from the EU and its member states. in order to better conduct discussions on further support for Ukraine within the framework of the European Peace Facility,” the EU representative said.
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The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, previously proposed providing 20 billion euros in the European Peace Fund for military assistance to Ukraine for 2024-2027. After this initiative was blocked during discussions, the head of European diplomacy started talking about allocating at least five billion for 2024.
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However, this proposal did not find unanimous support from the EU countries. Hungary is also currently blocking the eighth tranche of aid to Kyiv from the European Peace Fund worth 500 million euros, which was planned to be used in 2023.
EU leaders at a summit in Brussels last December agreed to continue military assistance to Ukraine through the European Peace Fund, increase funding for the fund, and also fulfill a promise to Kiev to supply one million ammunition by March 2024. The practical implementation of these agreements has not yet followed. It is known that the EU supplied about 300 thousand units of ammunition.
