Lithuania Urges EU to Maintain Ukraine Ammunition Reimbursements
Lithuania's Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, warned in a discussion with POLITICO that if the European Union (EU) ends its reimbursement program for weapons sent to Ukraine, smaller member states may struggle financially to support Kyiv.
The European Peace Facility (EPF), which funds arms and ammunition, is uncertain, with Hungary opposing the proposed €20 billion assistance package for Ukraine for the next four years.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is poised to challenge this at a December EU summit, leading some nations to consider bypassing the EPF and providing direct aid.
Landsbergis emphasized the challenge smaller countries like Lithuania would face in continuing aid to Ukraine without EPF backing. A lack of EPF funding would mean relying on limited national budgets, potentially delaying support and disadvantaging European industries.
He also expressed concerns about diminishing EU political support for Ukraine and called for EPF rule adaptations to address member states' concerns over transparency and accountability, drawing on the positive example of equitable vaccine distribution during the pandemic as a model for joint procurement efforts.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is poised to challenge this at a December EU summit, leading some nations to consider bypassing the EPF and providing direct aid.
Landsbergis emphasized the challenge smaller countries like Lithuania would face in continuing aid to Ukraine without EPF backing. A lack of EPF funding would mean relying on limited national budgets, potentially delaying support and disadvantaging European industries.
He also expressed concerns about diminishing EU political support for Ukraine and called for EPF rule adaptations to address member states' concerns over transparency and accountability, drawing on the positive example of equitable vaccine distribution during the pandemic as a model for joint procurement efforts.
