Package, valued at five billion euros, is far short of the original proposal of Kaja Kallas, which was worth 40 billion
The group of 29 countries nicknamed “coalition of the willing countries” arrived on Thursday to agree to send two million ammunition to Ukraine after a meeting of leaders in Paris, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, to discuss peace and safety in Ukraine.
According to a source of the European Union, this value was determined by what the needs expressed by the Ukrainians were. It is recalled that at the last European Council meeting, President Ukranaino, Volodymyr Zelensky asked Brussels for help to acquire artillery ammunition, worth € 5 billion.
Among the participants of the meeting were also the prime ministers of Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland, as well as the secretary general of NATO, the Turkish vice president and Volodymyr Zelensky. This was the third meeting of this group of countries.
The package, valued at five billion euros, is far short of the original 40 billion proposal advanced by the European Union representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas. The “Kallas Plan” suggested sending 1.5 million ammunition in 2025 in the short term and funds for the purchase of anti -aircraft defense systems, missiles, drones and aircraft. But the opposition of several countries caused the project to fall apart.
Brussels source also underlines the commitment made by the Member States to send 17 billion euros in military aid since the beginning of 2025, as well as the 18 billion loan supported by the frozen Russian assets. Member States are also committed to increasing coordination to ensure that Ukraine receives support that meets its needs.
European Council President António Costa stressed that the best way to support Ukraine is “to maintain the consistent” in the goal of reaching “a comprehensive ceasefire and a fair and lasting peace.” The former Portuguese Prime Minister insists that this means not slowing down the pressure against Russia, particularly in the field of sanctions.
“It would be a strategic error to give in to the temptation to relieve sanctions prematurely,” he said.
The meeting, which takes place after Jeddah’s negotiations, where the United States are trying to reach a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine, pressuring Kiev to make heavy concessions so as not to lose US support. This week, the two sides came to a ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea that opens the doors to the survey of sanctions to Russia.
