EU plans to provide Ukraine with €6 billion military aid package amid US-Russia talks

This was reported by Politico, citing three EU diplomats.

According to the media outlet's sources, the package will include a vast amount of weaponry—from 1.5 million artillery shells to air defense systems—and will be one of the largest military aid packages provided by the EU since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Its contents will likely be revealed ahead of the European Commission delegation’s visit to Kyiv on February 24.

Two diplomats stated that €6 billion is only a starting point, which could increase to €10 billion or more. Countries will assess their stockpiles and determine what they can send to Ukraine, the sources clarified.

Countries will have the option to contribute military equipment or cash. Their financial contributions will be proportional to their gross national income, one diplomat said.

The large military aid package will serve as a tangible display of the EU's commitment to supporting Ukraine after an emergency summit of leaders in Paris on Monday failed to yield concrete decisions, the publication notes.

“The EU has been sidelined from talks between the United States and Russia to end the war, causing consternation in EU capitals as well as in Kyiv,” Politico writes.

The publication points out that strengthening military support could help Ukraine sustain its army, deter Russian attacks on the front lines, and defend its cities from air strikes while Kyiv prepares for peace talks. It could also bolster the EU's case for participation in negotiations, the first round of which between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov concluded on February 18 in Riyadh.