Ukraine may get €6 billion from the EU, but Poland pushes back
Photo: Ukrainian Armed Forces (Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Telegram account)
Warsaw intends to seek full reimbursement for weapons transferred to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility, while Germany believes that the unblocked funds should be sent directly to Kyiv, according to RMF24.
Dispute over European Peace Facility funds
The issue concerns €6.6 billion that, after being unblocked by Budapest, remains in accounts in Brussels. Germany supports directing these funds to Ukraine rather than returning them to the national budgets of EU countries.
According to sources, the total spending by EU countries under the facility amounts to around €43 billion, which theoretically creates significant reimbursement obligations. However, there are not enough available funds for full compensation.
Poland’s position: fight for every euro
Warsaw insists on full reimbursement of approximately 2 billion zlotys (around €450 million) for weapons transferred to Ukraine.
Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk stressed that Poland does not agree with attempts to change the existing rules on fund distribution. According to him, reducing reimbursements directly affects the level of military support countries can provide to Ukraine.
The Polish side considers it unacceptable to revise the rules after aid deliveries have already been made.
Germany’s and other EU countries’ approach
In Berlin, officials believe the Peace Facility funds should be directed to Ukraine as part of European solidarity.
Representatives of the German Defense Ministry emphasize that Germany is already allocating significant resources to support Kyiv, so reallocating several hundred million euros is not a critical issue.
Several EU countries, including Nordic states, support a similar position.
France, meanwhile, supports partial implementation of the EU plan but insists that procurement should primarily be made from European manufacturers.
Disagreements within the EU
The EU remains divided over the principles of reimbursement distribution.
Some countries, including Poland and Slovakia, are demanding full compensation of costs, while others insist on a proportional payment mechanism.
Further discussions are expected at a technical level, after which the issue will be presented to EU ambassadors.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Germany intends to allocate €300 million to support a Czech initiative related to ammunition supplies for Ukraine.
