The EU is considering doubling military aid to Ukraine to €40B in 2025, with contributions based on economic weight. A proposal by the EEAS suggests an initial step of providing 2M artillery rounds and using profits from frozen Russian assets to fund aid.
The European Union should be prepared to go as far as doubling its military aid to Ukraine this year to 40 billion euros ($43 billion) if necessary, according to a discussion paper by the bloc's diplomatic service seen by Reuters on Friday.
The paper, an updated version of an earlier proposal which set out Ukraine's requirements but did not name a target figure, also says each EU country participating in the effort should contribute "in line with its economic weight".
With the future of U.S. backing for Ukraine uncertain, EU countries have expressed a broad willingness to continue supporting the country in the war, but diplomats say several states oppose fixed targets.
The paper says the EU gave about 20 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine last year and encourages EU countries to do at least the same again in 2025, with the total "potentially reaching" 40 billion euros, depending on Kyiv's needs.
EU leaders are likely to discuss the proposal by the European External Action Service (EEAS), headed by former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, at a summit next week.
The EEAS "non-paper" - diplomatic jargon for a discussion document rather than a formal proposal - suggests leaders agree as a first step next week to provide 2 million rounds of large-calibre artillery ammunition to Kyiv this year.
It suggests that some of the costs of the plan could come from a scheme that takes windfall profits from Russian assets inside the EU and uses them for the benefit of Ukraine.
The contents of the new proposal were previously reported by Politico late on Thursday evening.
Hungary, whose prime minister Viktor Orban has criticised EU sanctions on Russia and military assistance to Ukraine, said on Friday his country should contribute funds to a common EU defence policy, but not agree to joint EU borrowing for defence.
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Ukraine has received $2 billion in military aid from international partners through the U.S.-backed PURL programme, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Wednesday.
The United States has decided to halt some planned deliveries of air defence missiles and other munitions to Ukraine, citing concerns over dwindling American stockpiles, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The Netherlands will deliver a 100 drone-detection radars and 20 medical evacuation vehicles to Ukraine under a new €175 million ($202 million) military aid package, boosting its ongoing support for Kyiv ahead of the NATO summit this week.
Nearly 100 young and middle-aged military officers from over 40 African countries including Egypt, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya have started a 10-day visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of National Defence.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S. visa approvals continues to cast a shadow over the country's tournament preparations.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 7 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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