Kyiv's Additional $27 Billion Military Funding Request Triggers "Bomb Effect" Across Europe
According to The Washington Post, citing a European diplomat, Kyiv's request for an additional $27 billion in military funding has triggered a "bomb explosion"-like reaction among its European allies.
"Ukraine could have chosen another way to announce this news. In the 'voluntary alliance,' it feels like a bomb went off," said the publication's source.
Previously, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had stated that Ukraine’s defense spending shortfall amounts to approximately $27 billion. As one potential solution, Kyiv proposed accessing part of the funds earlier from loans planned by the EU for 2027.
However, raising tens of billions more in funds proves challenging for European nations. According to a European diplomat based in Kyiv, political figures are "very nervous" due to upcoming elections, while many EU countries are also grappling with their own budget deficits.
Brussels has yet to make a final decision on how to fill Ukraine’s financial gap. Previously, European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said the EU first needs to clearly determine Kyiv’s actual needs and clarify remaining "outstanding issues."
Earlier, Life.ru reported that the European Commission approved another military aid package for Ukraine worth €6.1 billion. The aid package includes air defense and anti-ballistic systems, missiles, ammunition, and radar equipment. The funding comes from a total credit line of €90 billion. Previously, the EU had approved €16 billion in weapons procurement, of which €8.35 billion had already been disbursed.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876355102728584/
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