EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius stated that the US and the EU currently allocate about €40B annually for military assistance to Ukraine. He believes these funds could be used more effectively if directed towards purchasing weapons directly from Ukrainian manufacturers, as the cost of weapons produced in Ukraine is approximately 50% lower than similar weapons from the EU or the US. Therefore, by utilizing Ukraine’s defense industry the volume of weapons supplied to Ukraine could effectively be doubled without increasing costs.
“The real impact of our support will increase to €80B,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, during the plenary session of the European Parliament from May 5-8, MEPs and representatives of the European Commission will debate the EU’s contribution to a just and comprehensive peaceful resolution of the Russian-Ukrainian war, as well as discuss political, financial, and military support for Kyiv and the repatriation of Ukrainian children illegally deported by the Russian Federation from the occupied territories of Ukraine.