Latest news with #EuropeanPeaceFacility
Russia Today
19-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
NATO state pledges $600 million in Ukraine aid
Denmark has announced a new military aid package worth $618 million for Ukraine, focusing on artillery munitions. The assistance comes as the US continues its efforts to achieve a settlement between Moscow and Kiev, which recently held their first direct talks in three years. In a statement on Saturday, the Danish Defense Ministry said the assistance includes funding for artillery systems, ammunition, and equipment for Ukraine's air force. The support – worth 4.2 billion Danish kroner – covers the period up to 2028. It is being financed within the framework for military support under the EU's Ukraine Fund, and is reimbursed through the bloc's European Peace Facility. A significant portion of the Danish aid has been allocated to the Czech Ammunition Initiative established in 2024 by Denmark, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands to finance the purchase of as many as 800,000 large-caliber shells for Ukraine. The program, however, has faced criticism. An investigation by the US state-funded funded RFE/RL broadcaster and several other outlets revealed that Czech companies involved in procuring artillery shells for Ukraine charged commissions up to four times higher than Ukrainian state agencies. Additionally, some deliveries arrived later than scheduled, potentially impacting Ukraine's defense planning. In some cases, there have also been complaints of poor quality munitions. Ukraine has long complained about the lack of ammunition and Russian artillery superiority while imploring its Western backers to ramp up military deliveries, with European contractors often struggling to meet the soaring demand. The announcement comes as the US under President Donald Trump continues its efforts to mediate the conflict. Last week, Russia and Ukraine held a two-hour meeting in Istanbul, which was their first direct peace talks since 2022. As a result, the sides exchanged lists of conditions for a potential ceasefire, agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange, and discussed the possibility of a follow-up round of talks. Russia has consistently condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, warning that they will only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome while becoming an additional economic burden for ordinary taxpayers.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Finland to supply Ukraine with ammunition funded by proceeds from frozen Russian assets
Finland has joined the EU programme that provides military aid to Ukraine using proceeds from frozen Russian assets held in Europe – with €90 million allocated for this purpose. Source: Finnish Ministry of Defence, as reported by European Pravda Details: Finland has been selected as one of the countries to participate in this initiative. An agreement with the European Commission stipulates that Finland will supply Ukraine with large-calibre ammunition. The ammunition will be procured from Finland's domestic defence industry and paid for using the proceeds from frozen Russian assets, channelled through the European Peace Facility – totalling €90 million. Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said that this mechanism both supports jobs in Finland's defence sector and strengthens aid to Ukraine. Quote: "This new package alongside our national EUR 660 million support programme will forge closer links between the Finnish industry and Finland's support for Ukraine. This is a great example of the Finnish defence industry's abilities, and it shows that our investments into ammunition production capacity are paying off." Background: On 18 May, Denmark announced a long-term military support package for Ukraine worth approximately €560 million. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Denmark announces nearly $600 million in military aid to Ukraine
Denmark has prepared its 26th military aid package for Ukraine, worth 4 billion Danish kroner (approximately $598 million), the Danish Defense Ministry announced on May 17. The package includes additional artillery and shells via the Czech ammunition initiative as well as equipment for fighter jets, the ministry said. A portion of the funds will also go towards increasing training capacity for Ukrainian forces. "Unfortunately, Ukraine's need for help and support has not diminished. I am happy and proud that we can once again allocate funds for donations that will make a difference on the battlefield in both the short and long term," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said. Denmark's latest military aid package is financed under the country's Ukraine Fund and the European Peace Facility (EPF). The assistance covers the years 2025-2028. The additional funds to the Czech initiative will allow Ukraine to better plan for a stable supply of ammunition, the ministry said. "Denmark is doing what we can to give Ukraine the best possible hand both on the battlefield and in the negotiating room," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said. Denmark has pioneered efforts to support Ukraine by investing in its defense industry, creating the so-called "Danish model" of purchasing arms for Kyiv from Ukrainian producers. Copenhagen has provided around $9.8 billion in military aid under its Ukraine Fund for the years 2023-2028. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Euronews
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
‘I'm very worried about the coarseness of language,' Irish PM tells Euronews
Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin has expressed deep concern about the increasingly hostile tone of political discourse across Europe and the United States, attributing the rise in aggression to the widespread influence of social media. "I'm very worried about the coarseness of language in public discourse at the moment, no matter where you go, even in Ireland," Martin told Euronews. "And social media has facilitated this, this kind of sharp soundbite of hate, of dismissing everybody if you don't agree with their view, of labelling people and putting people into pigeonholes." "The capacity to have debate, as we're having now, is fast slipping away from the public realm a bit and that worries me," the Irish prime minister added. Turning his attention to Hungary, Martin criticised the sometimes inflammatory rhetoric coming out of Budapest. "I look at some of the rhetoric that's emanating from the Hungarian government towards Europe. Saying 'we'll conquer Europe, or we'll take them over,'" said. Martin warned that such language can inflame public opinion 'very negatively.' The premier also took aim at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for blocking EU-level decisions regarding Ukraine, particularly those related to enlargement and the European Peace Facility (EPF), the EU's main tool for supplying military assistance to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's full-scale invasion. Martin voiced his alarm over what he sees as an erosion of fundamental rights across the EU, criticising Orbán's 'abuse of the veto' to obstruct decisions on Ukraine. While Ireland, as a neutral country, does not supply weapons to Ukraine, it contributes to the EPF through non-lethal military support. With the EPF facing significant delays, EU countries have resorted to bilateral arms transfers. Ireland, for example, has recently partnered with Lithuania to build bomb shelters for schools in Odesa. Martin accused Orbán of exploiting EU rules, reiterating support for triggering Article 7, a mechanism that can suspend a member state's voting rights in cases of persistent rule-of-law violations. "People are exploiting the mechanisms of the veto," he said. "Unreasonably in my view, unreasonably." Hungary is also blocking progress on Ukraine's EU membership bid and frequently condemns Western political and military backing for Kyiv. In contrast, Dublin is among the most vocal EU capitals in support of enlargement and backs Ukraine's accession. "It's outrageous what's going on at the moment. In my view, it's essential that Ukraine becomes a member of the European Union for geopolitical reasons," Martin said. "Europe has made a lot of attempts to try and unblock these. Likewise, the EPF, the European Peace Facility has slowed down Ireland's contribution to Ukraine." As the EU deals with a shifting security landscape, discussions around defence spending and cooperation are intensifying, including proposals for common borrowing to finance shared defence needs. Martin offered a rational view on whether Ireland supports such an approach. "I think on defence we accept the inevitability that in terms of the multi-financial framework there will be member states who will want some portion of that to be allocated to defence needs," he said. "Ireland has no interest in getting in the way of other countries in terms of their necessities, their existential sense of having to protect themselves given the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that has changed the entire security paradigm in Europe." While maintaining its long-standing policy of neutrality, Ireland is increasingly involved in European security efforts. Martin pointed to the country's vulnerabilities in areas such as cyber security and the protection of subsea cables, which are critical for communications and data flows. "Ireland itself understands we have vulnerabilities on cyber security, on subsea cable and protecting those, and that's why we're involved in a lot of PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation) projects — or quite a number of PESCO projects — on that," he said.
Euronews
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Irish Prime Minister condemns Hungary's use of EU veto
Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin spoke at length about Hungary and how the European Union should act against the Hungarian government's vetoes in an interview to Euronews. The Fianna Fáil politician also condemned the ban on the Pride march in Hungary. "We are very concerned about that in Hungary in terms of the undermining of the LGBTI community, the banning of pride parades. These are very fundamental issues that the European Union has to engage with." The prime minister said the Orbán government's anti-European rhetoric is negatively shaping public opinion. "If I look at the Hungarian government's rhetoric towards Europe, it's about conquering Europe or taking it over. I think, it is inflaming public opinion in a very negative way," he said. Martin added that most Europeans like EU membership, freedom of speech and a regulated common market, while the world beyond Europe is sinking. He said this meant standing up for European values and emphasising a positive narrative. "I think we have many instruments at our disposal [to deal with the position of Hungary]," Martin said, adding: "The Article 7 procedure is one of them, but I think we should pursue all instruments. We have always accepted the unanimous voting system in some respects. But it has been abused. And the European Union will become dysfunctional if this abuse continues. So we must not be afraid to use these tools." The Article 7 procedure was launched years ago at the request of the European Parliament. But sanctions have not yet been taken by the Council because the procedure has not reached that stage. The latest abuse of the veto by Hungary concerns Ukraine's membership, Martin said. Hungary was the only country to oppose the acceptance of aid to Ukraine at the last two EU summits, and is also opposed to Ukraine's accession. Orbán believes that this could bankrupt the EU. In Hungary, the government is holding a referendum to ask people's opinion on Ukraine's membership. "It's outrageous what's happening at the moment. In my view, it's essential that Ukraine becomes a member of the European Union for geopolitical reasons. And I think Europe probably missed opportunities over the last decade or two in terms of the Western Balkans as well," said Martin. "Orbán is, in my opinion, using this [the veto] unreasonably." said Martin, adding that "Europe has made several attempts to unblock it through mediation". "The same has happened with the European Peace Facility, where Ireland's support to Ukraine has been slowed down. We've contributed non-lethal finance to that now hasn't been used. Now we're providing that to Ukraine on a bilateral basis," he said. The European Peace Facility was set up before the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2021 to fund conflict prevention abroad. After the war broke out, the fund was used to try to reimburse individual member states for military aid to Ukraine.
