The EU is proposing a voluntary fund of €20-40B for military assistance to Ukraine be established to circumvent Hungary’s veto.

The document outlining this proposal indicates that member states “are encouraged to provide military support to Ukraine in 2025 totaling at least €20B and potentially increasing to €40B based on the country’s needs.”

As a first step, EU leaders should come to an agreement to allocate €5B for the procurement of two million units of large-caliber artillery ammunition. Each member country will contribute according to its economic capacity – either in cash or in kind. The emphasis should be on large-caliber artillery ammunition, air defense systems, missiles, drones, fighter jets, and any other needed support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

EU leaders will discuss the fund’s creation at a summit this week, with a deadline for countries to express interest set for April 30.

Additionally, Estonia has publicly called for Hungary to lose its voting rights in the EU Council due to its ongoing actions against the bloc’s common interests. Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union allows for the suspension of specific rights for a member state if it significantly and persistently undermines the fundamental values of the union.