EU countries can declare arms deliveries to Ukraine to the fund, the so-called European Peace Facility (EPF). But it predates the Russian invasion of Ukraine and, at around €5.7 billion, is not up to the many billions the country needs. Last autumn’s increase of 2 billion is entirely due to the extra artillery ammunition that Ukraine is desperate for.
“You can see how important EPF is,” says Rutte. “We still have to make a final decision about it”, but the Netherlands is in favor of the new increase. “That is important, of course broadly for Europe, but also specifically aimed at the situation in Ukraine.”
Countries such as France and Italy have been emphasizing for some time that the large amount of aid to Ukraine should not mean that countries in Africa, for example, fall behind the net. According to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, many “partners” mirror Ukraine and many turn to the EU for military aid. “Of course you always look if there are concrete requests to see what you can do,” says Rutte. But “not on the scale, of course, that is now happening with Ukraine.”