The European Union is weighing a proposal to double its military aid to Ukraine this year, potentially reaching €40 billion ($43 billion), according to a discussion paper by the bloc’s diplomatic service. The updated proposal outlines Ukraine’s needs and suggests that each EU member state contribute in proportion to its economic capacity.
This comes as U.S. support for Ukraine remains uncertain, prompting EU nations to reaffirm their commitment to aiding Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s 2022 invasion. Last year, the EU provided approximately €20 billion in military aid to Ukraine, and the new proposal encourages maintaining or increasing this level of support in 2025, depending on Kyiv’s requirements.
The European External Action Service (EEAS), led by former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, is expected to present the proposal at an upcoming summit. The plan includes an initial step to supply Ukraine with 2 million rounds of large-caliber artillery ammunition this year. Funding could partially come from windfall profits generated by frozen Russian assets within the EU.
Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has expressed reservations about joint EU borrowing for defense but supports contributing to a common EU defense policy. EU leaders are set to discuss the proposal next week, with the potential for significant developments in military aid to Ukraine.