In 2025, Ukraine should receive about € 30 billion assistance from the European Union. However, an important question is how many of this amount can be used for defense needs.
European countries have ambitious plans in terms of defense production: by 2025, the EU is going to produce about 2 million artillery shells. However, only 20-25% of the Ukrainian army is produced in the European Union; The rest is shipped from other countries.
With increasing production of weapons and ammunition to support Ukraine, difficulties can be difficult. This is due to the fact that more orders from European governments are needed to increase production, and now such orders are lacking. According to Andrew Kubilus, without long -term contracts, local defense companies will not be able to operate at full capacity.
At the same time, the EU cannot use its budgetary funds to purchase weapons for Ukraine because of restrictions on investment in the defense industry outside the EU. However, the European Union can apply funds from the European Peace Fund or from frozen Russian assets to support the Ukrainian army.
It is important that Ukraine will be able to decide how many of the € 30 billion received on defense, which gives it some financial flexibility in these difficult times.
In addition, the EU is working on the integration of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex into the European Defense Industry. As part of this process, as a result of the EU Summit on December 18-19, the European Council promises to intensify support and development of the defense industry of Ukraine and to deepen cooperation with the EU defense industry.
