The Council of the European Union has approved €4.9 billion in funding for Ukraine’s military needs, including reimbursements to member states for military assistance already delivered and additional financing for the EU’s military training mission.

The Council said on Monday that it had adopted eight decisions enabling the use of funds under the European Peace Facility (EPF), allocating €4.7 billion to partially reimburse EU member states for military aid provided to Ukraine and €230 million to strengthen the EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine).

The decisions represent a major step towards implementing an agreement reached by EU member states to mobilise €6.6 billion for Ukraine under the facility. The agreement also envisages €1 billion in new military assistance and further reinforcement of the EU training mission in 2027.

With the latest allocations, the EU’s total support for Ukraine through the European Peace Facility will reach €10.8 billion, including €9.9 billion for the reimbursement of military assistance provided by member states and €950 million for military training.

The Council reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders amid Russia’s ongoing war.

Established in March 2021, the European Peace Facility is an off-budget EU instrument designed to finance measures under the bloc’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. It supports conflict prevention, peace preservation and international security, including by strengthening the military and defence capabilities of partner countries and organisations.

According to the Council, the EU has also channelled €3.5 billion in extraordinary revenues generated from immobilised Russian assets through the facility to address three of Ukraine’s priority needs: ammunition, air defence and drones.

More than €1.5 billion worth of military equipment has been procured directly from Ukraine’s defence industry through this funding mechanism, the Council said.

The latest decisions come as EU member states continue to coordinate military assistance to Kyiv and expand training for Ukrainian forces, while the war with Russia continues.

The European Peace Facility has become a key instrument in the EU’s military support for Ukraine, allowing member states to receive partial reimbursement for eligible assistance and helping finance the training of Ukrainian personnel. (ILKHA)