BRUSSELS

The European Union and its member states have so far granted Ukraine $156 billion in military, financial, and humanitarian aid since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war on Feb. 24, 2022. 

As we enter the third year of the war, Anadolu compiled from official data and media coverage the resources provided by the EU and its member states to support Ukraine.   

EU member states contribute $36B in military aid

The EU decided for the first time in its history to finance the purchase and delivery of arms and other military equipment.

Since the EU treaties prohibit the Union from using its regular budget to finance military operations, the EU used an extra-budgetary source, the “European Peace Facility.”

The EU has mobilized $12.1 billion to support the Ukrainian army between 2022 and 2024, according to data released by the EU Commission.

The fund includes a set of seven aid measures worth around $546.6 million each, two aid measures of around $1.1 billion each, aimed at the joint purchase and ammunition delivery, as well as allocating $5.4 billion for the “Ukraine Assistance Fund.”

The Union also launched a mission to train 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers in November 2022, and so far, 40,000 troops have been trained and $395.2 million has been spent from the European Peace Facility fund.  

EU allocates $88.4B from its budget

The EU provided significant macro-financial support to Ukraine in 2022-2023 in the form of loans and grants, according to the EU Commission data.

The EU has also supported by providing grants and loans through the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, enabling these banks to lend to the Ukrainian government and companies providing vital services.

So far, a total of $88.4 billion has been allocated from the EU budget under financial support, budget support and humanitarian aid, $3.4 billion of which was humanitarian aid provided by the EU and its member states.

Additionally, the member states have provided Ukraine with $13.3 billion in grants and loans on their own.

The EU opened its doors to Ukrainian refugees for the first time in its history under the Temporary Protection procedure, hosting 8 million refugees in the early days and currently around 4 million, with the amount spent on them reaching $18.5 billion.

In total, $156 billion has been allocated to Ukraine in its war with Russia so far.   

Germany

Germany ranks second to the US in countries giving support to Ukraine, as according to official stats, $34.9 billion have been provided so far as humanitarian aid, and as direct payments, in addition to military aid.

Germany has provided air defense systems such as the Iris-T SLM and the Gepard anti-aircraft units, combat vehicles, artillery systems, such as the Mars 2, armored vehicles, weapons, and ammunition, in addition to training Ukrainian troops.

It is estimated that Germany has so far spent around $18.5 billion to meet the needs of around 1 million Ukrainian refugees.   

France

France provided Ukraine with military assistance worth $4.1 billion.

The Elysee Palace reported France granted $327.4 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine as of February 24.

France sent 1002 AT4 rocket launcher systems, Milano anti-tank systems, TRF1 howitzers, as well as several artillery and rocket launcher systems, 2 Crotale NG, 6 Mistrals and a SAMPT/T air defense system to Ukraine.

Additionally, 288 armored vehicles and 9,000 AMX10 RC tanks were provided.  

Italy

Italy provided military aid to Ukraine on different scales through a series of orders issued under the Mario Draghi government, which was in office when the war broke out on Feb. 24, 2022, and the Giorgia Meloni government that followed.

Italy supplied anti-tank vehicles, multi-barrel rocket launchers, light and heavy machine guns (MG 42/59), FH70 heavy artillery, and PZH2000 self-propelled howitzers in different calibers.

In addition, a SAMP/T air defense system, jointly produced with France, was sent to Ukraine  

Spain

Spain has aided Ukraine in different military fields since the beginning of the invasion, according to data from the country’s Ministry of Defense, as the country provided Ukraine with 65 TOA armored vehicles, 10 Leopard tanks, 6 HAWK air defense systems and 10 military trucks.

Additionally, the Spanish government trained more than 4,000 Ukrainian troops alongside their own.

Spain also provided Ukraine with military and civilian ambulances, a Role 2B plus field hospital, and more than 70 surgical sets.

Spain currently hosts 130,000 Ukrainians each of whom receives $436 per month, while families with children receive $546 per month.   

 Belgium

Belgium provided Ukraine with a total of $545.8 million in different items between 2022 and 2023, according to the country’s Foreign Ministry.

The Belgian government pledged to increase its support to Ukraine to $1.8 billion for the 2024-2025 period, and it is currently providing Ukraine with humanitarian aid, arms, ammunition, military equipment, and reconstruction aid.  

Greece

Greece has provided Ukraine with anti-tank vehicles, anti-aircraft missiles, rockets, rifles, and ammunition, according to local news.

It has also sent 40 Soviet-made BMP-1 armored vehicles to Ukraine, in accordance with the agreement reached between Athens and Berlin.

It was announced that Greece would provide training support to Ukrainian F-16 pilots during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s official visit to Athens on Aug. 21.  

 Bulgaria

Bulgaria has been among the largest arms exporters to Ukraine since the start of the war, however, the amounts of aid and sales are not disclosed.

The country's military industry is known to have a large production capacity for old Russian-made small arms and different caliber bullets used by the Ukrainian army.  

Austria

Austria cannot directly provide military ammunition to countries at war due to its neutrality. However, the federal government announced its political support for Ukraine and provided humanitarian aid in cash.

Austria’s Foreign Ministry reported that governmental and non-governmental organizations mobilized a total of around $136.5 million for people in need in Ukraine.  

Slovakia

Slovakia was one of the countries that provided the most military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

In addition to humanitarian aid, an air defense system, attack helicopters, Soviet-made MiG-29 type fighter jets, Slovak-made Zuzana 2 howitzers, and many ammunitions were shipped to Ukraine, totaling approximately $732.6 million in military aid.

Military aid to Ukraine ceased in October 2023 with the change of Slovakia’s government, as Robert Fico, leader of Slovakia’s Social Democratic Party (SMER), became prime minister.   

Czechia

Czechia has provided the Kyiv administration with ammunition worth approximately $264.2 million, according to data from the country’s Defense Ministry.

About 17,400 mortars, 62 tanks, 13 howitzers, and 131 armored vehicles were the most prominent ammunition provided to the Ukrainian army.

Additionally, a fund of $218.3 million was created with the cash support of 18 EU member states to purchase artillery and tank shells for Ukraine from different countries around the world.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated that approximately 800,000 tanks and artillery shells would be supplied to the Ukrainian army with the fund.   

Croatia

The Croatian government revealed on local news that the country has been providing financial support to Ukraine since the start of the war, as the country spent approximately $301.6 million in financial aid packages sent to Ukraine, more than 50% of which was military aid.

The remaining amount is used in areas such as Ukrainian immigrants, health insurance, employment, education, medical services of Ukrainians, and keeping the Ukrainian culture alive.  

UK

Although not an EU state, the UK is one of the European countries giving support to Ukraine, as it has provided Kyiv with a total of $15.3 billion, including $9 billion in military aid, since the beginning of the war.

The UK has already provided Ukraine with $2.9 billion in support in the 2022-2023 and the 2023-2024 periods, and on Jan. 12, it announced a further $3.1 billion in funding for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

The country is providing Ukraine with both lethal and non-lethal weapons, including tanks, air defense systems, and long-range precision strike missiles.

Although the British government said it would not provide fighter jets, it has committed to training Ukrainian jet pilots.

The UK is also home to Operation Interflex, a military operation for the members of the Ukrainian armed forces involving personnel from 12 countries.

More than 30,000 Ukrainian personnel have been trained so far and another 10,000 are expected to be trained by the middle of this year.

The UK pledged $455.6 million in humanitarian aid following the start of the war as part of an international response.  

*Writing by Emir Yildirim in Istanbul