BRUSSELS. July 19 (Interfax) - The European Union is planning to provide up to 20 billion euros to supply the Ukrainian Armed Forces with weapons for the next four years, Politico said, citing diplomatic sources.
"The EU will propose a dedicated fund to keep Ukraine's military stocked for the next four years at a cost of up to 20 billion euros," five diplomats familiar with the EU plan told the media outlet.
However, the figure of 20 billion euros will represent a ceiling, and there is no guarantee that it will all be spent, Politico said.
"The proposal would not involve the EU directly paying for Ukraine's weapons. Instead, Brussels would help countries cover their own costs of purchasing and donating items such as ammunition, missiles and tanks. It also would help pay to train Ukrainian soldiers," it said.
A high-ranking EU official for his part told Politico that the money allocated to the European Peace Facility (EPF), which is used to provide military assistance to Ukraine, would soon be exhausted.
The EPF was established in March 2021 to finance EU efforts in support of its common foreign and security policy "to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security."