EU agrees to release 6.6 billion euros of military funds for Ukraine

Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, announced in her statement on the social media platform of US-based company X that member countries reached an agreement on the conditions for the release of 6.6 billion euros from the EPF.

Kallas stated that 900 million euros of 6.6 billion euros were allocated for the EU's Military Assistance Mission in Ukraine, and 1 billion euros would be used to finance new joint military equipment supplies.

Stating that the remaining 4.7 billion euros will be used to repay EU member states that previously provided military support to Ukraine, Kallas stated that some member countries will redirect the resources to be repaid to Ukraine.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also shared Kallas' statement and stated that the agreement to release 6.6 billion euros means providing more support to Ukraine's defense, from training to military equipment.

Von der Leyen stated that this source will complement the EU's other support packages for Ukraine, and that the Union is also working on new support steps for Ukraine.

In his statement at the beginning of September, Kallas said that the 6.6 billion euros allocated for Ukraine within the scope of the EPF was blocked and negotiations were continuing between member countries on how to use the funds.

EPF is used as an exceptional financing mechanism that operates outside the EU budget and allows the provision of military and defense support to third countries. Within the scope of the mechanism, military equipment such as ammunition, missiles, radar and armored vehicles can be provided, as well as training, technical and logistical support.

The 6.6 billion euro resource in question has been blocked for a long time due to Hungary's veto and disagreements among member states on how to use the funds. While some countries wanted the resource to be used to repay past arms deliveries, others advocated directing it to new military purchases and Ukraine's future needs.

According to EU data, over 6 billion euros of support has been provided to Ukraine through the EPF to date.