Training Efforts Redoubled, Deliveries Ramp Up
While the war rages, the EU is delivering outstanding results in helping Ukraine, with about 20.000 soldiers trained, 220,000 rounds of ammunition conveyed to Kyiv, 1,300 missiles, worth some €10 billion (US$10.8 billion), High Representative Josep Borrell announced a few days after the US gave the green light for delivery of F-16s and associated personnel training.
On 23 May, EU Defence ministers met in Brussels to discuss ongoing and future military support to Ukraine – a meeting joined by the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and representatives of the European Defence Agency (EDA).
The number of trained soldiers was “more the double than initially planned [and is] seen as an extraordinary success” by ministers, Borrel said. The goal is now to reach 30,000 trained personnel by the end of the year. The same goes for ammunition delivery, which has been considerably sped up in the last few weeks, and is on its way to reach the planned one million projectiles by the end of 2023. Asked if the EU would be able to reach such a goal, Borrell replied “usually the largest amounts come in the end”.
The EU will reimburse about 5.6 out of the €10 million spent by member states on military and non-military equipment aid through the European Peace Facility (EPF), the EU’s extra-budget fund to allow states better manage international security, which for the time being is used primarily to purchase artillery ammunition for Ukraine. The fund has currently reached €5.6 billion, while an 8th package of €500 million is up in the air, due to Hungarian opposition to unblocking the money if it is only used for munitions.
Several ministers criticised Budapest’s position: German minister Boris Pistorius said he is “somewhat disappointed or irritated by the behaviour of [our] Hungarian friends” for blocking the aid. But Borrell seems to be optimistic. “We are still discussing that and I hope that obstacle […] will be overcome this week,” he commented.
In recent weeks, other countries have called for another €3.5 billion to add to the EPF, with top officials suggesting this will be discussed shortly. Some €1 billion of this would be aimed at boosting Ukrainian capacities, with the remainder to be used for missions in Niger and possibly in the Guinea Gulf, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast and other Sahel states under threat from ISIS and Wagner forces.
Meanwhile, the EU is already at work on F-16 and training. Borrell said training has already started in some countries, like Poland. Dutch Defence Minister, Kajsa Ollongren, welcomed the US decision, which means that “we can continue and finalise the plans we are making with Denmark [Belgium, UK] and other allies to start this training”. This, she added, is only the first step – actual delivery will come later.
Concluding his remarks, Borrell said the EU is not at all tired, and must equip Ukraine with the “most appropriate amounts.. as small doses […] would only prolong the Ukrainian war needs”. This is not a view shared by former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, who warned that the more destructive the weapons the West delivers to Ukraine, the more “likely [is a] nuclear apocalypse“.
Caterina Tani reporting from Brussels for MON
