EU Nears Agreement On EUR5bn Aid Package-FT

The FT is reporting that the EU could sign off on an EUR5bn military aid package for Ukraine as soon as 13 March. The reportclaims that according to four officials briefed on discussions the deal "...unlocks fresh cash for the reimbursement of supplies to Kyiv by EU countries. It will prioritise weapons manufactured inside the bloc but not exclude those from third countries if they are the only option, the officials said."

• The issue of where weapons could be manufactured in order to be purchased under the European Peace Facility has been a major stumbling block for a deal. France was seen as a signifcant hold-out on the issue, but it would appear following President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Prague last week this stance has been diluted. Czechia has been an advocate for buying weapons and ammo from non-EU suppliers to speed up provision.
• The issue of continued EU support for Ukraine is a significant one in terms of sustaining Kyiv's war effort. This will be even more critical should Hungarian PM Viktor Orban's comments regarding US Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. After a visit to Mar-a-Lago last week, Orban claimed that Trump would "not give a penny more" to the Ukrainians if he is re-elected.