The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday 15 November that the equipment provided by the West to Ukraine was making a difference in its war against Russia.
“What is certain is that the military equipment supplied by the Europeans and the United States to the Ukrainian armed forces is proving to be extraordinarily useful. These weapons, especially anti-aircraft weapons, are clearly making a difference”, he said at the end of the Defence Ministers’ Council, during which they met by video conference with their Ukrainian counterpart and with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who was present in the room.
According to Mr Borrell, European efforts, through the European Peace Facility and bilaterally, amount to at least €8 billion (of which at least €3.1 billion is from the European Peace Facility).
The High Representative explained that the war in Ukraine was a “logistical war where supply chains are very important and critical equipment, in particular air defence systems, are vital. We are convinced that, thanks to this assistance, Ukraine is not only resisting, but pushing back the Russian army”, he insisted. Mr Borrell said that the Ukrainians had taken back from Russia 50% of the territory they had lost after 24 February.
The High Representative pledged that the EU would continue to send military equipment to Ukraine, adding that the ministers had agreed on the need to “redouble efforts to regenerate and train military capabilities, personnel”. He recalled the launch of the EU Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine (EUMAM) and announced the adoption of a €16 million European Peace Facility assistance measure to support capacity building of the Ukrainian armed forces through EUMAM Ukraine.
EUMAM Ukraine and the assistance measure will finance “the provision by EU Member States of ammunition, military equipment and platforms designed to deliver lethal force, and the transportation, custody, maintenance and repair of the equipment financed through the assistance measure”, the Council said in its statement.
This assistance measure will last for 24 months. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)