EU Approves Extra €500 Mln in Military Aid for Ukraine

On Monday, the European Union ratified more military aid to Ukraine worth 500 million euros, sources said, as Berlin faced more pressure over calls from Kyiv to supply it with German-made Leopard tanks.

The agreement on the seventh tranche of such aid came as the 27 EU foreign ministers met in Brussels after Western countries failed last week to agree to send battle tanks to Ukraine - but pledged billions of dollars in support.

An EU diplomat said a package of 500 million euros ($542 million) had been approved, along with another 45 million for "non-lethal equipment" for the EU's military training mission in Ukraine. Two other sources confirmed this after the closed talks of the ministers.

German Leopard tanks, which are being fielded by armies across Europe, are widely seen as the best fit for Ukraine, but Berlin has yet to authorize their sale.

Poland said on Monday it might send the tanks as part of a coalition of countries.

Arriving at the Brussels meeting, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock declined to elaborate on the comments on Sunday when she said Berlin would not stand in Poland's way.

She mentioned that it was important to "do everything we can to defend Ukraine."

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis pointed out that the tanks should not be held up one more day, while Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said Germany, as an"engine of Europe", had a particular responsibility to help Ukraine. Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said Russia could win the war if Europeans "don't help Ukraine with what they need now."

The ministers were expected to discuss — but not reach a decision — the use of frozen Russian assets in Europe to help rebuild Ukraine, as well as the tenth package of sanctions against Russia that take effect next month.

Hungary, Russia's powerful dove in the European Union, has agreed to the 500 million tranche but has signaled its opposition to further sanctions, especially if they would limit Budapest's cooperation with Moscow on nuclear energy.

"All decisions that could prolong the war or lead to a potential escalation are against our interests," said Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. "It's been proven that sanctions are leading Europe into a dead-end street."