One of the key topics of the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg was the issue of a further expansion of military assistance to Ukraine. Three and a half billion euros – this amount increased the volume of the European Peace Fund. It is from this that Brussels allocates money for the supply of weapons to Kyiv in tranches of 500 million euros every few months. According to Bloomberg, almost all of the previous budget has been spent. From now on, the total financing of the fund will be 12 billion.
Even before the start of the ministerial meeting, Eurodiplomacy chief Josep Borrell confidently told reporters that raising the fund’s ceiling was a settled issue. But just the new, eighth, tranche of aid to Ukraine, which EU foreign ministers could not agree on.
“But I will work with everyone involved to get it approved,” Borrell assured.
One of those who opposed Ukraine’s next military tranche, according to tradition, was Hungary.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó explained under what conditions Budapest does not oppose the increase of the European Peace Fund.
“We agreed on an increase in the European Peace Fund on the condition that the additional part goes to countries in Africa and the Western Balkans to increase stability and reduce migratory pressure. But we did not agree to the EU funding new arms supplies to Ukraine from the added part,” Szijjártó said.
Australia has remained steadfast in its determination to help the Kyiv regime. Canberra will provide nearly US$74 million. According to Prime Minister Anthony Albaniz, the funds will be used to purchase military vehicles and ammunition.
“As part of this new military and humanitarian package, $110 million will be allocated, bringing the total amount of support to $790 million, including $610 million in military assistance. This additional support will make a real difference and help the people of Ukraine, who continue to show great courage,” Albaniz said.
It is planned that 70 units of military equipment will be purchased for the APU, including 28 M113 armored vehicles, 14 special purpose vehicles, 28 medium trucks and 14 trailers. As well as 105 mm artillery shells.
Jens Stoltenberg also spoke about the importance of maintaining Western support for Ukraine in Lithuania today. The NATO Secretary General announced a new aid package to Kiev at the upcoming July summit.
“At the Vilnius summit, we will agree on a package of aid to Ukraine, which will further strengthen our ties. This will bring Ukraine closer to the alliance, because Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO. The allies agree on this issue. The decision to join will be taken by Ukraine and the members of the alliance. Russia has no veto power,” Stoltenberg said.
Moscow has repeatedly stressed that military assistance to the Kyiv regime only prolongs the conflict. In addition, Ukraine has repeatedly been caught that most of the assistance provided, military and humanitarian, is used for other purposes, and the patterns of corruption never cease to amaze with their diversity. .
“This is all just a parallel market for weapons and military equipment. This is the global market, in which the United States and, possibly, the representatives of other Western elites are doing well. But I think that the representatives of the highest authorities in Kiev do not remain losers either, ” says Alexander Perendzhiev, associate professor in PRUE’s Department of Political Analysis and Socio-Psychological Processes. Plekhanov.
In Ukraine, meanwhile, in several cities at once, a new wave of general mobilization – in Ivano-Frankivsk, then in Kyiv. However, conscripts and servicemen are less and less willing to fight against the Russian army. Captured soldiers talk about it. We did not see the Ukrainian army and Western weapons. According to them, the machine guns and grenades they had were Soviet.
“The Russian attack aircraft were very well prepared and performed well. Morale was very bad. Nobody wants to fight,” says captive Andrei Tlustyak.
Another fighter of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Andrei Oranyuk, who surrendered, said: it has long been clear to everyone that America and Europe are fighting at the hands of Ukrainians against Russia.
“They gave me a machine gun, which jammed half the time, the boys did not shoot machine guns at all. The RPG was given without a belt to carry it in the hand, ”says Oranyuk.
The so-called Ukrainian counter-offensive also falls short of Western expectations. But even despite the fact that a new tranche of aid to Ukraine could not be agreed, the European Union continues to encourage Zelenskyy with promises. Europe will notably train a new group of Ukrainian soldiers.
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