EU Agrees To Extend EUR5bn From EPF To Fund Ukraine's Military

The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union has confirmed the agreement of the provision of an additional EUR5bn in additional funding for the Ukrainian military. The Ukraine Assistance Fund will become a ring-fenced part of the European Peace Facility. A Council statementreads "The UAF will seek to maximise the EU’s added value in terms of delivering more and better operational support to Ukraine, complementing EU member states’ bilateral efforts, and focusing on increased joint procurement from the European and Norwegian defence industries."

• As was the case with the eventual agreement on providing EUR50bn in long-term funding to Ukraine at the last EUCO summit, the Hungarian foriegn minister left the room at the time of the vote. This allowed the Council to back the measure unanimously, but avoided a Hungarian veto or abstention.