Challenges in aid to Ukraine

SGGP October 3, 2023 06:06

Reuters news agency reported that on October 2, foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) met in Ukraine (the first meeting held outside the EU's borders) to show the bloc's support for Kiev.

Concerns from the US and Slovakia

Earlier, in order to prevent a government shutdown, the US Congress removed funding for Ukraine from the emergency spending bill last weekend. There is currently a lot of opposition to funding for Kiev within the Republican Party. However, the government of US President Joe Biden still affirms that it will continue to provide aid to Kiev.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (left) and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell

Meanwhile, in Europe, the Smer Social Democratic Party of former Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia won the most votes in the country's parliamentary elections and is on the verge of forming a new government. During his election campaign, Mr. Fico stressed that "not a single bullet" from Slovakia's reserves was sent to Ukraine. Responding to the press after learning the election results, Mr. Fico emphasized: "We have not changed our position that we are ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Slovakia is ready to help rebuild Ukraine, but everyone is also clear about our position on supplying weapons to Kiev."

Slovakia is a NATO country that borders Ukraine. Under the outgoing government , Slovakia has taken in refugees and supplied large quantities of weapons to Kiev.

EU's persistence

On his social network account X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU, shared: “We are convening a historic meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ukraine, a candidate country and a future member of the EU. We want to express our solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine.”

Previously, according to the European Defence Agency, seven EU member states had ordered ammunition under a joint purchasing plan launched in March to provide emergency aid to Ukraine and replenish the West's depleting reserves.

Responding to Reuters news agency, the European Defense Agency said the above countries ordered 155mm artillery shells, the type of artillery used most by Ukraine in the current conflict. This ammunition is related to four modern artillery systems designed and manufactured in Europe: France's Caesar, Poland's Krab, Germany's PzH2000 and Slovakia's Zuzana C/2000. According to Reuters, the joint ammunition purchase plan launched by the EU in March is worth at least 2 billion euros, with the goal of sending 1 million artillery shells and missiles to Ukraine within 12 months.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed his pride at hosting the first meeting outside the EU. Regarding the US Congress's move, Mr. Kuleba affirmed that Kiev still believes in US support and said that the recent decision of the US Congress was just "an accident".

As for the developments in Slovakia, Mr. Kuleba said it was too early to assess how the election would affect support for Ukraine. “We have to wait until the new government is formed,” Mr. Kuleba said.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/thach-thuc-trong-vien-tro-cho-ukraine-post708148.html