KL’s information: Ukrainian weaponry divides Member States – Valtonen: Putin must not be given the opportunity

On Monday, EU extermination ministers will gather in Ukraine’s fate and support the country.

Foreign minister Elina Valtonen (Kok) said upon arrival at the meeting that the ball in Ukraine’s peace is now in Russia.

Valtonen said he appreciated the US President Donald Trump “Genuine attempts” to create peace in Ukraine. However, in the same breath, he stressed that it should not be an opportunity for the Russian President For Vladimir Putin weakens Ukraine and gathering forces for a new attack.

According to Kauppalehti’s information Kaja Kallas At the meeting, tells Foreign Ministers about their new plan, which would provide Ukraine for at least EUR 20 billion this year to Ukraine.

Kauppalehti told me last weekthat the amount of aid could reach up to EUR 40 billion if, for example, the United States withdrew from the armed support of Ukraine, in which case the EU should compensate for the difference.

The money is to be used for artillery shootings, air defense systems, missiles, droons and fighters. In addition, they could cover the cost of Ukraine’s security guarantees if the peacekeeping operation is sent to Ukraine.

On Monday, Foreign Ministers are not yet making decisions on the support package, but will go to the summit on Thursday for EU leaders.

At that time, EU leaders should agree on the first actions, ie the delivery of two million ammunition to Ukraine. The value of the package is EUR 5 billion and would be the first step in Ukraine’s support for the EU and the willing coalition countries.

Hungary’s opposition is twisted

In the past, Kallas tried to get the weapon packet to proceed in the EU, but it fell to Hungary’s opposition.

In order for the armed support of Ukraine to proceed, Kallas’s new support package is based on the “participation of voluntary member states” according to diplomatic sources. In addition, it could also be involved in non -EU willing countries.

“We cannot remain hostage in one country when it comes to Europe’s security,” said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys Monday in Brussels.

According to the plan, coalition countries would contribute to the cost of the support package according to their economic weight, which means a model based on GDP.

Support could be either money, bilateral deliveries or safeguarding the peace of Ukraine.

In the EU, in particular, the Nordic countries and the Baltic countries are willing to spend more money on supporting Ukraine and in European defense, while Southern Europe’s countries are more aware.

According to information from Kauppalehti’s diplomatic sources, the support model based on GDP has already aroused opposition, especially in France and Italy.

“There is still a bit of a way to go here,” Kauppalehti was told about the diplomatic sources on Monday.

Foreign Minister Valtonen hopes that the aid will be approved.

“It is about being able to be able to cover countries outside the European Union to agree on additional support for Ukraine,” Valtonen said.

Following the Foreign Ministers of the EU countries, the Ukrainian armed aid package will be dealt with by EU leaders at a summit on Thursday.

Juta edited at 1 pm Added Valtonen’s comment on Ukraine support.