The permanent representatives of the 27 member states agreed on this in Brussels on Sunday evening, as reported by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. In addition, according to the information, an agreement was reached on sanctions against Russian oligarchs.
According to Borrell, 450 million of the 500 million euros are to be made available for arms deliveries and 50 million for other equipment. According to the plans, the money will come from the so-called European Peace Facility. It is a new EU financing instrument that can also be used to strengthen the capabilities of armed forces in partner countries. For the period from 2021 to 2027, the peace facility is endowed with around five billion euros.
Video: Correspondents from Brussels and Washington
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, it is the first time that the European Union has financed the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country that is under attack.
The main purpose of the sanctions against the oligarchs is to freeze their assets in the EU. Names were not initially mentioned. A final agreement on new sanctions against the Russian central bank was expected late Sunday evening.
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg had previously told the APA in relation to the upcoming decision on arms deliveries that Austria, as a neutral state, would “out of solidarity with the EU not block this decision, but constructively abstain”. One sees “that the EU is taking this step, and thus wants to give the Ukrainians a helping hand not only with sanctions and words, but also in fact”.
Source: Nachrichten
