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Funding is planned to come from voluntary contributions and profits from frozen Russian assets
The European Union is making a new attempt to secure stable funding for military assistance to Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression. On Tuesday, 18 February, EU ambassadors will begin discussing an initiative to create a new fund to support Ukraine’s defence.
This is reported by Money.pl with reference to a document available to the Polish agency PAP.
What does the new fund provide for?
Procurement of critical weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine – large-calibre artillery ammunition, air defence systems, long-range missiles.
Financing the reconstruction of Ukrainian brigades.
Support for the Ukrainian military industry.
The main goal is to provide Ukraine with weapons and ammunition as quickly as possible to prevent a slowdown in military assistance.
Where will the money come from?
The fund will be financed by:
✔️ Voluntary contributions from EU countries (proportional to their national income).
✔️ Proceeds from frozen Russian assets are expected to reach €900 million in 2025.
This scheme will allow states to determine the form of support on their own – directly supplying weapons or making financial contributions.
Will Hungary be able to block the fund?
The new initiative does not replace the European Peace Facility (EPF), which has been blocked by Hungary for several months.
The creation of the fund requires the approval of all EU member states, but to avoid new blockades, participation in the fund can be voluntary. This means that support for Ukraine will not depend on the position of individual states.
What does this initiative mean for Ukraine?
The main consequences for Kyiv:
✔️ Stable financing of arms supplies.
✔️ Possibility of using frozen Russian assets.
✔️ Less dependence on political decisions of individual countries.
Europe is seeking to find a mechanism that will prevent delays in military assistance, even if some countries do not want to participate.
The amount of funds envisaged has not yet been disclosed, but the discussion of the new mechanism will be a key step in supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
