Aid packages are used with weapons and ammunition in the war against Russia
The EU (European Union) and the United States announced on Monday (03/20/2023) the dispatch of additional military aid to Ukraine. Together, the packages add up to around US$2.49 billion (R$13 billion at current exchange rates).
The transfers are in line with requests from the Ukrainian government. Kiev has estimated that it will need 350,000 shells a month by the end of the year to contain the advance of Russian troops and launch counteroffensives.
European aid was signed by 17 countries of the bloc: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Holland, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Sweden, in addition to Norway. Here is the full text (802 KB).
The amount will be released in phases:
- 1st phase €1 billion (approx. BRL 5.6 billion) in joint financing. Countries must deliver their stocks to Ukraine by the end of May;
- 2nd phase plus 1 billion euros for ordering new missiles. The contracts must be signed by early September.
The agreement also requires countries to share details of their ammunition stockpiles. This type of information is often confidential.
The question arises as to how much of their stocks EU members and Norway can give away without making themselves vulnerable. Hence the idea is that they increase industrial capacity.
US
At the same time, the US government announced that it would send an additional $350 million ($1.8 billion) in military aid to Ukraine. Here is the full explanation (250 KB, in English).
In the note, US Secretary Estos Antony Blinken said the package included ammunition, missiles, cannons, combat vehicles, antitank weapons, riverboats and other equipment that Ukraine is using to defend against Russian attacks.
“Russia alone could end the war today. Until then, we will remain united with Ukraine for as long as necessary,” Blinken concluded.
Read who are the top donors of military aid to Ukraine: