Arms and Equipment aid to Ukraine from Europe - Is it a battle for technology?
The European Union quickly decided to send €500 million from the European Peace Facility (EPF) to fund and coordinate European Union's military aid and to deploy military and deadly weaponry to Ukraine in extraordinary and united response to the Russian assault and invasion on Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022. The European bloc also called this response the 'Watershed moment' in its history.
European Union's Aid to Ukraine
On December 2, 2021, the Council agreed to provide Ukraine with €31 million in non-lethal aid. For the first time in its history, the EU employs a specific, off-budget medium to pay but not to deliver. That task falls solely on the shoulders of Member States' deadly military equipment for a third nation. Joseph Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the Commission, announced on February 27, 2022, a proposal to use the European Peace Facility, which is an off-EU budget instrument that has been operational since July 1, 2021, to fund emergency assistance measures in response to a request for military assistance by Ukraine. The fund, which is two years old, was established to prevent violence and bolster world peace and security. The seven-year budget period, which is from 2021 to 2027, has a financial cap of 5.7 billion euros (about $6.4 billion). The EU official stated that if Ukraine would need any additional funding, it may also be delivered. This contained a €450 million support package for military weapons and platforms meant to use lethal force and a €50 million supply package that included gasoline, protective equipment, and emergency medical supplies. Non-lethal supplies like gasoline, protective clothing, helmets, and first-aid kits will be provided with an additional €50 million. [1]
It can be said that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought European countries closer together, with minds focused on President Vladimir V. Putin's broader danger to European security. In an address to the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Union's executive arm, had said that "European security and defence has developed more in the past few days than in the last two decades." [2] Brussels has attempted to "Europeanize" member states' attempts to help Ukraine with weapons and money, establishing the union as a significant military player.
Countries Supplying Aid
In total, some 20 nations, the majority of which are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union, are supplying weapons to Ukraine to repel Russian invaders and boost Ukraine's firepower. Previously neutral nations, like Sweden and Finland, are providing weaponry. Simultaneously, NATO is deploying military arms and equipment and around 22,000 more troops to the member countries bordering Russia and Belarus to reassure them of safety and strengthen their military capacity. [3]
The United States government has provided most weaponry, ammunition, and other equipments than any other nation. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economic's Ukraine Support Tracker, about $4.8 billion in military aid was committed up to the deadline. This amount may soon increase much higher since the White House is working on another sizeable military aid package. When combined with a comparable package announced in mid-April, the current financing cycle would increase US military aid to Ukraine by $1.6 billion.
Then comes the United Kingdom, which claims to have provided over 200,000 pieces, including 4,800 NLAW anti-tank missiles and a minor quantity of Javelin missiles. It also said it would deliver 6,000 more missiles, including anti-tank and high-explosive weaponry. It has also provided Starstreak high-velocity anti-air missiles and Stormer armoured missile launchers, to which Starstreak may be attached, according to sources. It has also promised to provide 120 armoured Mastiff, Wolfhound, and Husky vehicles and a new anti-ship missile system. It has also supplied Poland with a Sky Sabre anti-air missile system with a medium-range capability. On April 22, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that the United Kingdom is contemplating deploying tanks to Poland so that Warsaw may send its tanks to Ukrainian soldiers battling Russia. [4]
At the start of the war, Germany said it would give Ukraine 1,000 anti-tank weaponry, 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles, roughly 2,700 Strela anti-aircraft missiles, and ammunition. According to media sources, it has also delivered roughly 100 machine guns, 100,000 grenades, 2,000 mines, 15 bunker-busting bombs, detonators, and explosive charges. Germany also has a say in where weapons from the former East German army are disposed of. Other nations like the Estonia and Czech Republic have requested that Berlin deliver some of the ex-East German, Soviet-era equipment to Ukraine, notably howitzers and armoured personnel carriers.
Spain has dispatched 200 tonnes of military equipment to Ukraine, including 30 trucks, six special heavy transport vehicles, and ten small vehicles stocked with military supplies. According to French Defence Minister Florence Parly, France has supplied more than 100 million euros in military equipment to Ukraine. President Emmanuel Macron said on April 22 that France would send several heavy artillery pieces to Ukraine. [5]
The Nordic countries have also stepped up. Norway has dispatched 100 French-made Mistral anti-air missiles as well as 4,000 M72 anti-tank missiles to Ukraine. Sweden said in late February that it would supply 5,000 single-use anti-tank launchers (internationally known as AT-4) and demining equipment, followed by another 5,000 anti-tank launchers in March. In February, Finland said it would supply 2,500 assault weapons, 150,000 rounds of ammo, and 1,500 single-use anti-tank launchers. On March 24, the government said it would transfer another cargo of armaments to Ukraine, although it did not specify what that shipment would include. On February 27, Denmark announced the deployment of 2,700 anti-tank missile launchers. During a visit to Kyiv on April 21, Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen said her government would give another 600 million Danish kroner for armaments.
The Baltic countries like Latvia have given more than 200 million euros in military equipment, including ammunition, Stinger anti-air missiles and launch pads, unmanned aircraft, and drones. Lithuania stated it had delivered "tens of millions" of euros in military aid to Ukraine. This includes anti-aircraft missiles such as the Stinger, mortars, weapons, ammo, and other military hardware. In the provided time range, Estonia has contributed a significant amount of $240 million, and this military aid committed by the government equates to 0.8 per cent of the small nation's GDP. Even with military, financial, and humanitarian aid commitments combined, this is significantly more than any of the other main contributors to Ukraine have pledged. [6]
Since the invasion, Ukraine's neighbours have also been quite proactive. Drones, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Grot assault rifles, 60 mm mortars, and MANPAD short-range surface-to-air missiles have all been given to Ukraine by Poland. According to unsubstantiated sources, Poland is also said to be deploying 40 T-72 tanks and 60 BMP-1 armoured personnel carriers. Slovakia has already given military equipment worth around 62.5 million euros and an S-300 air defence system. In addition, the EU member is in talks with Ukraine about sending Zuzana howitzers across. Romania had said in late February that it would provide three million euros worth of gasoline, ammunition, and other military supplies. Slovenia reported the shipment of Kalashnikovs and ammo in late February. According to German media, Slovenia will deliver a large number of assault tanks in exchange for German Marder tanks and Fuchs armoured personnel vehicles. Due to resistance from pro-Russian socialists, Bulgaria is not formally transferring military weapons to Ukraine. However, compared to the same period in 2021, the country's military equipment shipments to EU members nearly quadrupled between February 20 and April 13. The Czech Republic has contributed 45.2 million euros in military equipment, including small guns and missiles. Prague reportedly handed over Dana self-propelled howitzers and RM-70 Grad rocket launchers, and Soviet-made T-72 tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, according to local media. According to the defence ministry, Czech businesses will also repair Ukrainian army tanks. [7]
Conclusion
Ukraine is neither a NATO nor a European Union member; thus, the alliance is not obligated to defend it. Its members are concerned that engaging in a direct armed battle with Russia may result in a full-fledged conflict between Russia and the West. Even though the Ukrainian President urged the EU to immediately accept Ukraine as an EU member and eight European countries signed on the request, it is still a decision the European countries cannot take in haste and under such circumstances, which might have catastrophic consequences. The EU considers Ukraine to be a 'priority partner' and believes it to be the gateway of Russia into Europe and the West; that is why European nations have provided Ukraine with millions of euros in military help since Russia's invasion. Europe has also come to believe that sanctions on Russia are doing little to crimp its military operations in Ukraine. Russia has also reiterated its statement saying that pumping arms and equipment into Ukraine will have a negative impact on the peace talks and European security. Though the united front of Europe, which the United States heavily influences, has made a smaller country like Ukraine resist the firepower of Russia, it remains to be seen how far is Russia willing to go.
End-Notes
[1]https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2022/729301/EPRS_ATA(2022)729301_EN.pdf
[2] EU agrees to give €500M in arms, aid to Ukrainian military in ‘watershed’ move. (2022, February 27). POLITICO. https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-ukraine-russia-funding-weapons-budget-military-aid/
[3] Erlanger, S. (2022, March 2). NATO Countries Pour Weapons Into Ukraine, Risking Conflict With Russia. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/02/world/europe/nato-weapons-ukraine-russia.html
[4] Military aid and arms for Ukraine. (2022, April 22). France 24. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220422-military-aid-and-arms-for-ukraine
[5] Russia’s war on Ukraine: The EU’s financing of military assistance to Ukraine. (n.d.). 2. These countries are sending arms and aid to Ukraine. (2022, February 28). Deccan Herald. https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/these-countries-are-sending-arms-and-aid-to-ukraine-1086176.html
[6] Duthois, T. (2022, March 4). Which countries are sending weapons and military aid to Ukraine? Euronews. https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/03/04/ukraine-war-these-countries-are-sending-weapons-and-aid-to-forces-fighting-the-russian-inv
[7] Infographic: Where Military Aid to Ukraine Comes From. (n.d.). Statista Infographics. Retrieved May 9, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/chart/27278/military-aid-to-ukraine-by-country/
Pic Courtesy-Mitch Neilson at unsplash.com
(The views expressed are that of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)
