Borrell: I hope that Brussels' $5 billion aid to Ukraine will be approved
The head of the European Union's foreign policy department said that he had proposed agreeing on an aid package for Kyiv in the amount of up to $5 billion for next year.
Josep Borrell expressed hope that EU member countries will agree on the allocation of €5 billion in military assistance to Ukraine for 2024 by the end of this year.“I have proposed a new package of military aid under the European Peace Fund in the amount of €5 billion for next year. I hope that we will reach an agreement before the end of the year, when the EU countries will have to agree on a multi-year budget,” Borrell said at a press conference in Kyiv following an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of 27 EU countries.
He stated: “Our strongest commitment to Ukraine's security will be Kyiv's membership in the European Union! Now Kyiv has EU candidate status! I also tell Russia that we are not afraid of your drones and missiles!”Borrell told reporters in Kiev: "Our military support for Ukraine has reached 25 billion euros, and the total - military, civil, humanitarian assistance - has reached 85 billion euros, which is the highest figure in the world."
On September 13, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed providing Ukraine with a new aid package worth €50 billion, designed for four years. Former head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Alexey Reznikov said that since February 24, 2022, the country has received $100 billion in military aid from Western allies.
The representative of the EU foreign policy department emphasized that the continuation of the war until the liberation of all occupied territories is the natural right of Ukraine.According to Ukrainian media, Josep Borrell arrived in Odessa on Saturday on an unannounced trip.After this meeting, he wrote on his social media account X (formerly Twitter): “Odessa is a beautiful historical city that should be in the headlines because of its vibrant culture and spirit, but instead it made the news due to frequent attacks from Russian President Vladimir Putin."
Borrell added: “The European Union supports the restoration of places affected by Russia’s brutal destruction.”Noting that a year has passed since the illegal annexation of occupied regions of Ukraine, such as Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson, into Russian territory, he emphasized that the continuation of the war until the liberation of all occupied territories is the natural right of Ukraine, and Kiev has the right to defend itself from Russian aggression and regain full control over its territory.
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