• Monday, 17 March 2025

EU foreign ministers to debate multibillion-euro aid plan for Kiev

EU foreign ministers to debate multibillion-euro aid plan for Kiev

Brussels, 17 March 2025 (dpa/MIA) - EU foreign ministers are set to discuss a new initiative that could provide billions of euros of further military aid for Ukraine at a meeting on Monday.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has proposed providing Ukraine with aid worth between €20 billion and €40 billion ($22-44 billion), according to dpa information. EU member states would contribute to this amount based on their economic strength.

To prevent a possible veto by individual governments, participation in the initiative would be voluntary, a text from the EU's diplomatic corps, seen by dpa, stated.

Hungary has rejected EU military aid for Ukraine in the past, calling it pointless and saying it prolongs the war.

The foreign ministers are not expected to reach an agreement on the initiative, diplomats said, suggesting further talks between heads of government will be necessary. EU leaders are set to meet on Thursday for their next summit.

For some countries, such as Germany, the support proposed by Kallas would not be a problem. Berlin has already approved aid totalling €4 billion for this year, with a further €3 billion to be added soon.

However, other large countries such as France, Italy and Spain would have to significantly increase their support for Ukraine if they were to make a contribution to the fund that is proportionate to their economic strength.

In addition to the financial pledges, the initiative also sets a target for participating countries to deliver two million rounds of artillery ammunition to Kiev this year.

Other topics on the meeting's agenda include the EU's relations with the United States, its policy on Iran and the situation in the Middle East. A conference on Syria is scheduled to begin immediately after the meeting at 3 pm (1400 GMT), with the aim of mobilizing further support for the people in the war-torn country and Syrian refugees abroad.

MIA file photo