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European Union
European Union
30 April 2022 10:00 Ukraine has been calling for the delivery of heavy weapons for weeks. Kyiv needs anti-missile systems, anti-aircraft systems, armoured vehicles, tanks, and other heavy equipment. NATO has been ready to support Ukraine in the war against Russia for years, including help for Kyiv to shift from Soviet-era weapons to modern Western arms and systems, Secretary-General Stoltenberg said on 28 April. Most of the heavy weapons NATO countries have sent to Ukraine are Soviet-built arms still in the inventories of east European NATO member states. The EU agreed to support the Ukrainian resistance through the European 'Peace Facility' with a set of measures ranging from personal protection equipment, first aid kits, fuel and military equipment to defensive platforms designed to deliver lethal force. According to EU officials, the instrument, currently having firepower of €1.5 billion, could and should provide much more assistance if member states would be more willing to do so. The Hungarian foreign minister, speaking at the UN on 27 April, said his country’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine has exceeded 1,000 tonnes. The country has also offered to treat injured soldiers of the Ukrainian army. The government maintains that it intends to keep Hungary “out of the war”. It claims its two-thirds victory during the general elections of 3 April is evidence most Hungarians support its Ukraine policy. There has been no sign Fidesz is willing to soften its position of not providing Ukraine with military aid. The six-party united opposition has previously supported providing military aid. The issue has not been discussed much since the elections. The right “Our Homeland” party, the only other party to make it into the parliament besides Fidesz and the united opposition, has blasted any form of support to the government in Kyiv. “Our Homeland is against military support for the chauvinistic Ukraine, which is pursuing a repressive policy against the Hungarian ethnic group in Transcarpathia, and against serving American interests”, party deputy chair Novák said on 22 April. Hungary’s treaty obligation as a member of NATO would only apply to “helping to defend a member state in the event of an attack, but Ukraine is not a NATO member,” he added. In March, Ireland announced a €20 million package of humanitarian assistance. Around €2 million of this will go to Ireland-based international NGOs working on the ground in Ukraine, Poland, and Moldova. Over 25,000 refugees have arrived from Ukraine, who are struggling to find accommodation – a symptom of the country’s ongoing housing crisis. The country’s support for the war-torn Ukraine was leading to a debate on the position of military neutrality for the first time since the Second World War. In February, a leftwing lawmaker from the People Before Profit party proposed a referendum to codify the policy into the constitution. Polling suggests there is little public appetite for abandonment of the principle. Two independent Irish MEPs, Daly and Wallace were among the 13 who voted against the European Parliament’s condemnation of the invasion due to its support for NATO and the sending of weapons to Ukraine. Members of the PBP chose not to applaud Zelenskyy after addressing Ireland’s parliament earlier this month. The Fine Gael TD visited the site of the massacre at Bucha, from where he called for war crimes investigations and announced an extra €3 million in funding for the International Criminal Court, €1 million of which would be dispersed immediately to the Prosecutor’s office. The government has strongly condemned Russia’s actions. Foreign Minister Coveney has said the war should prompt “an honest rethink” of Ireland’s security and defence policy and spending (the lowest in the EU). He visited Kyiv on 14 April, meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba and Defence Minister Reznikov. Taoiseach Micheál Martin met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal when he visited Ireland on 20 April. Dublin sent non-lethal assistance such as fuel, helmets, vests, and medical supplies. The government also pledged €1 million in aid to Moldova – a sum that has drawn fire from some quarters for being too low. No military aid has been sent by Ireland. Italy has pledged €110 million in financial assistance for the Ukrainian government, with some €26 million in humanitarian contributions. Assistance has extended to Poland, Moldova, and Slovakia affected by the influx of Ukrainian refugees. The decision to send weapons was backed almost unanimously by the parliament. Lega’s Salvini supported the government’s line, as did Meloni, leader of the right-wing opposition party Fratelli d’Italia. Doubts surrounding the supply of military aid were voiced by the Five Star Movement (5SM), part of the governing coalition, and the Italian Left party. Former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, head of the 5SM, said his party would oppose the decision to send weapons that are not defensive in nature, such as heavy armaments. We will not look the other way, said prime minister Mario Draghi on 9 April, reiterating Italian support for the embattled nation. To date, the Italian government has allocated roughly €150 million for military aid to Ukraine, with Rome providing both non-lethal military protective equipment and weapons. Weapons to be shipped include Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, Milan anti-tank missiles, 120mm mortars, heavy and light machine guns, bulletproof vests, bullets, and munitions. A further announcement will cover the supply of heavier arms, such as M113 and PzH2000 tracked vehicles. Latvia has given €1.2m in humanitarian aid, gone towards international organisations providing help to refugees, soldiers, their families, media and journalists in Ukraine. Riga’s City Council donated 80 tonnes of aid to the Kyiv region in 11 Mercedes-Benz buses, which will also be donated to help the city restore public transport infrastructure. 90% of Latvians support Ukraine. However the significant Russian-speaking minority community is split, with about 20% supporting Ukraine, 20% Russia. The rest is 'unwilling' to express an opinion. President Levits visited Kyiv on 13 April. There is broad cross-party support for sending help and championing the cause of Ukraine on the European and world stages. Latvia joined Lithuania in offering use of its ports to Ukraine to export agricultural products to help sustain the Ukrainian economy and offset a looming global food crisis. Latvia has given €1.2m of financial aid to the European 'Peace Instrument' in support of the Ukrainian military Lithuania - alarmed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - had put a State of Emergency in place given its geographical proximity to Kaliningrad and Belarus. On the European stage, Lithuania invested heavily in LNG fuel supplies back when Russia annexed Crimea. It is now pushing hard for the EU to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels altogether. There is a political consensus in the parliament with key votes now and historically in support of Ukraine passing unanimously. Lithuania was among the first to close its airspace to Russian planes. The Parliament has recently voted to ban the Russian ‘Z’ symbol and label Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine ‘genocide’. The speaker of the Parliament is currently pressuring Germany, in particular, to not stand in the way of an accelerated EU accession process for Ukraine. Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, Foreign Minister Landsbergis, and the Lithuanian European Commissioner Sinkevičius have all visited Kyiv. The country has given away so much military assistance that there is now a valid concern that sending more military supplies would risk Lithuania compromising its own defence. Purely military in nature, Lithuania’s support is amounting to 'tens of millions of euros' (at least €30m, likely more), including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, heavy mortars, rifles, and ammunition. Malta along with Cyprus and Greece, have refused to enforce sanctions against banning ships with Russian owners from their ports. In April 28, Spain turned away a Maltese ship from its own ports over fears it had a Russian cargo that could infringe sanctions. Malta has a cash-for-passport scheme that has seen hundreds of Russians acquire Maltese citizenship for cash and real estate investment. These include many close to or linked to President Putin. The government is supporting Ukraine verbally and invited President Zelenskyy to address the parliament. After meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian community, the foreign ministry shared a note saying that the community was grateful for Malta’s support for Ukraine. The government stated that it sent €1.15 million worth of medicines in March. Malta has not donated any military equipment. The Netherlands has released some €20 million in emergency humanitarian aid for Ukraine, with a further €10 million for Moldova, aimed at helping the country deal with the flow of Ukrainians fleeing war. The national fundraising campaign Giro555 has collected €160.8 million for Ukraine. Dutch-based international aid organisations have been highly active in Ukraine, providing food, water, medicine, and shelter. The Dutch government gave a €1.5 million grant to the Red Cross to support its humanitarian work. On the fringes, pro-Russian sentiment is more common. The right political party's Forum voor Democratie (FvD) leader, Baudet, made pro-Russia comments following the invasion. The Russian narrative of the war in Ukraine is also fuelling radical ideas in right-wing extremist groups. Dutch leader Mark Rutte has condemned the invasion and spoken out about the importance of a united NATO, reflecting the mainstream opinion in Dutch politics. He was having paid a visit to Kyiv on 2 February. The nation has since backed Rutte's promise. On 14 April, the Netherlands sent a Dutch anti-aircraft missile system, with armoured Howitzers following on 26 April. Around 150 Dutch soldiers have been transferred to Slovakia as part of a German-led initiative to reinforce the eastern flank of the NATO area. Poland has become the strongest advocate of Ukraine’s EU membership application, with Warsaw having the legacy of initiating the Eastern Partnership format for that purpose together with Sweden in 2009. The frontline NATO country and the main destination for Ukrainian refugees, Poland emerged early in the war as key logistical hub for weapons supplies and humanitarian aid, channelling supplies through its border into the western part of Ukraine. Before the current crisis, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki had not visited Ukraine at all, and neither had his predecessor, Beata Szydło, while relations were warm and productive at the presidential level between presidents Duda and Zelenskyy. The Polish ruling Law and Justice (PiS) government has softened its previously hostile attitude towards the EU. Poland buried the hatched with Ukraine over historical disputes. Morawiecki was among the first to pay a surprise visit to Kyiv in support of the country, hosting a range of leaders in Warsaw and making Poland the main lobbying force on the European level for more support and stronger sanctions against Russia. Morawiecki said Poland had provided Ukraine with weapons worth around €1.5 billion. Warsaw sent more than 200 T-72s – produced by the Soviet Union – into Ukraine in recent weeks along with mobile artillery, drones and rocket launchers. According to Polish defence experts, the share of donated tanks amounts to at least 25% of its 808-strong total tank arsenal. Poland also donated air-to-air missiles for MiG-29 and Su-27 aircraft, portable anti-aircraft missile systems “Perun” and 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers. Most of the Portuguese political class has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Two Communist party (PCP) MEPs are part of the mere 13 MEPs that voted against the European Parliament’s resolution condemning the war on Ukraine. The PCP has stood out by condemning Ukraine. Portugal MPs squabble over whether a delegation should visit the Ukrainian parliament without receiving an invitation. The Portuguese government has sent various humanitarian aid goods worth €100,000 to Ukraine, including syringes, painkillers and emergency shelter materials like blankets. Lisbon has successfully delivered 70 tonnes worth of gear, both lethal weapons and ammunition, as well as non-lethal helmets or night vision goggles. Another 100 tonnes of material are in transit, including medicine. Given Romania’s tenuous relationship with the Kremlin, support for Ukraine has been near-unanimous, only marred by the nationalists from AUR trying to score political points by warning against attracting the wrath of Russia. On 19 April Romania was changing its constitution to be able to supply lethal weaponry to allies. Alongside NGOs and private companies, the government has set up a hub of humanitarian assistance in Suceava, operational since 9 March. It has funnelled hundreds of trucks filled with humanitarian aid goods into Ukraine. The Romanian government has been silent about the arms it is supplying to Ukraine since a first public tranche in February. Immediately after the invasion of Ukraine, Bucharest provided €2 million worth of helmets and bulletproof vests. The Romanian Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciuca, visited Kyiv on 26 April. The government has not confirmed reports of Romanian T72 tanks or Soviet-era MiG21 planes having been supplied. It is better not to talk too much publicly on these things, the foreign minister said. The Slovaks manage the logistics centre in Haniska near Košice, which has been assisting in the transport of aid from EU Member States through Slovakia to Ukraine. So far, almost 600 tonnes of humanitarian material have passed through it. Bratislava has also provided Ukrainian regions with €5 million through cross-border cooperation frameworks, while Slovak citizens continue to collect donations to support Kyiv. There is a clear consensus in the country’s four-party coalition about the need to provide both humanitarian and military help to Ukraine. The two biggest opposition parties and former prime ministers complain that the government is dragging Slovakia into the conflict by providing military help. Fringe right parties claim similar positions to the opposition heavyweights, calling members of government “lunatics” for providing military help to Ukraine. Slovakia’s Prime Minister Eduard Heger visited Ukraine on 8 April after turning down an invitation to come in March alongside Poland, Czechia and Slovenia, citing “security reasons.” The Slovenian (Sic!) government has provided Ukraine with the S-300 air defence system while negotiating the sale of one battery of self-propelled Slovak-made Zuzana Howitzers. According to the Slovak defence ministry, negotiations are already coming to a close. Slovakia has so far provided other military material assistance worth more than €10 million - ten million litres of diesel, 2.4 million litres of aviation petrol and 12,000 pieces of 120 mm ammunition. The government approved a proposal on April 27 to donate military equipment worth another €2 million. The Ministry of Defence stated that they want to have some of their expenses reimbursed at the European level and based on bilateral agreements. Financially, Slovenia pledged €1 billion at the international donor conference in April, on top of another €1 million previously donated to charities like the Red Cross and Caritas. Supporting Ukraine is helped by the political support for the besieged country, with the only pro-Russian party performing dismally during the parliamentary elections in April. The Left is anti-NATO, but its campaigning against defence spending cost it half of its MPs.The government has been at the vanguard of campaigning in the EU for Ukraine to be supplied with weapons. Prime Minister Janez Janša was among the first EU leaders to visit Kyiv on March 15. The country was quick to supply Ukraine with arms, sending Kalashnikovs, ammunition and helmets to Ukraine following the invasion in February aboard several aircraft. Janša has been defeated at the polls, putting the Freedom Movement in power, whose foreign policy advisor had previously decried the country’s pro-NATO and anti-Russian policies. Aid for Ukraine has slowed down due to domestic elections and the subsequent careful coalition-building process that followed. The country is in talks to deliver Yugoslav-era tanks to Ukraine as part of a swap deal with Germany in exchange for newer armoured personnel carriers. Spain provided a specific humanitarian aid package of €31 million, of which €7 million was dedicated to protecting women and children, channelled through UNICEF and the United Nations. Madrid has additionally sent over 20 tonnes of health materials and medicines. CIS released a poll showing that 70.9% of citizens are “in favour” of sending more arms to Ukraine. Spain has contributed with financial aid through the European 'peace fund', amounting to €111 million. Opposition parties are criticising the government’s domestic policy, particularly on energy prices. The matter has become so dire that PM Sanchez held up the last meeting of European leaders in March to attain a derogation to heavily intervene in markets. Sánchez's left-wing coalition partner Unidas Podemos had opposed sending lethal weapons to Kyiv. The party’s Belarra, minister for social rights, has publicly expressed her opposition to the latest arms shipment. Pedro Sánchez, made a journey to Kyiv on 21 April. The extent of Madrid’s support has resulted in the country’s largest-ever shipment of armaments to a foreign country, amounting to some 400 tonnes of military equipment, half of which is through the European 'Peace Facility'. On 21 April, a transport vessel of the Spanish navy shipped 30 military trucks, several heavy transport vehicles, including a plated military ambulance vehicle, and ten smaller vehicles loaded with assorted “light” military material for Ukraine. Previously, the Spaniards had provided the Ukrainian military with 1,370 anti-tank missiles like the Spanish “Alcotán 100” and the “C-90,” which are lighter versions of the US-made “Stinger,” as well as 700,000 rounds for rifles and machine guns. Following the invasion, Sweden's government increased its humanitarian aid budget by around €58 million while extending a $50 million loan guarantee for Kyiv at the World Bank. Stockholm also provided some 20,000 emergency shelters to the tune of €19 million. The Swedes are primarily concerned with their domestic debate over whether and how their country should accede to NATO, given their proximity to Russia. The 2014 annexation of Crimea had kickstarted a security policy rethink, which resulted in the return of mandatory conscription in 2017. The conservative and far-right opposition parties support NATO membership, while the far-left are opposed and trying to force a referendum. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia prompted a population-wide U-turn on whether the country should accede to NATO, with PM Andersson stating that she’s “open” to the idea. Andersson’s social democrats continue reckoning with their historic opposition to joining the military alliance. One of Sweden’s social democrat MPs made the trip to Ukraine on 28 April. The traditionally neutral country has helped arm Ukraine at the cost of SEK 900 million (around €87 million), of which more than half is going to the Ukrainian armed forces through the European 'Peace Facility'. The rest went to Ukraine in the form of ammunition, 5000 helmets, 5000 pieces of body armour and 135,000 rations. (Source: EURactiv)
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