The first anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war was marked by a significant change in arms supplies by Western countries.
West continues arms supplies to Ukraine as war drags into 2nd year
Arms supplies change in direction of deliveries of heavy weapons
In early 2022, many countries were unwilling to provide Kyiv with heavy arms, but at the end of 2022, the US announced deliveries of Patriot air defense systems, and last month, Germany gave green light for the deliveries of Leopard 2 tanks.
An average of eight to 10 planes with military supplies arrives in Ukraine on daily basis.
US
Washington has been Ukraine’s staunchest military partner since the start of the war, and it has provided more weapons and equipment than all other countries together. In a fact sheet released by the White House on Feb. 20, Washington’s total military assistance to Ukraine reached $30.4 billion since the beginning of the Biden administration, and approximately $29.8 billion since the start of the war.
It also showed that the country has provided vast quantities of military equipment, weapons, and ammunition as well as defense systems. . ."
Ukraine: U.S. Military Aid Exceeds Costs of Afghanistan
DEFENSE
Ukraine receives the most military aid from the United States: Since the beginning of the war and as of Jan. 15, 2023, $46.6 billion in financial aid for military purposes has flowed to the country now at war with Russia. When calculating the average annual costs (in 2022 prices) of previous wars in which the United States has been involved in, the true magnitude of the country's Ukraine aid expenditure can be seen. As this infographic shows, the payments to Ukraine have already exceeded the annual military expenditure of the U.S. in the war in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2010. The U.S. military costs in the Vietnam War, the Iraq War and the Korean War were significantly higher - according to calculations by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy as part of its Ukraine Support Tracker.
In the Vietnam and Korean wars, the high usage rate of ammunition and other supplies cost a particularly large amount of money, in addition to the wear and tear of equipment and numerous other assets such as the care of the wounded. Further complicating matters in each case was the great distance to the theater of operations. Although the U.S. maintained a number of bases in Southeast Asia, the large weapons systems and the required replacement components all had to be shipped or flown across the Pacific. In addition, a large fleet of aircraft carriers was always deployed off the coast of Vietnam. The numerous missions of the air force also caused significant costs.
In the U.S., criticism of the scale of military aid to Ukraine is already coming from within the Republican ranks. Some of the U.S. Republicans in Congress have announced that they intend to block aid to Ukraine. Nevertheless, the day after his visit to Kyiv, U.S. President Biden underscored his country's commitment to continued support of the Ukrainian war effort. Speaking in Warsaw, Poland, he said: "This is not just about freedom in Ukraine. It's about freedom of democracy in general".
In addition to the military aid detailed in this infographic, the U.S. has also supplied weapons and equipment worth over $5 billion.
Highlights
€1 billion EU support for ammunition and missiles for Ukraine
On 5 May, the Council adopted an assistance measure worth €1 billion under the European Peace Facility (EPF) that will finance the provision to the Ukrainian Armed Forces of 155-mm-calibre artillery rounds and, if requested, missiles which will be jointly procured by EU member states from the European defence industry.
5 May, 2023 19:26
EU agrees €1 billion ammo package for Ukraine
"EU members have agreed on a financing mechanism that would entail Ukraine receiving €1 billion worth of ammunition as part of the bloc’s assistance plan, the EU Council said in a statement on Friday. The package is expected to include mostly 155-mm-calibre artillery rounds and missiles “if requested.”
This comes in addition to another €1 billion worth of ammo the bloc’s members agreed to send to Kiev out of its own stocks in April.
“Together with the previous decision to swiftly provide ammunition from existing stocks, we are committing €2 billion to this purpose, bringing the total EU military support to Ukraine to €5.6 billion,” the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said.
The ammunition will be purchased and delivered by EU members, the statement explains, adding that to be reimbursed, procurement contracts or purchase orders will need to be concluded before September 30, 2023. The ammunition must only be purchased from “economic operators established in the EU or Norway,” the EU Council said.
The measure comes as part of a multi-part scheme adopted by the Council on March 20, which aimed to provide Ukrainian forces with one million rounds of artillery ammunition within 12 months.
The scheme initially prompted some disagreements among EU member states, with France reportedly demanding compensation for supplies which Kiev never even requested, according to Poland’s PAP news agency.
The bloc eventually managed to agree on the “first track” of the plan worth €1 billion on April 13. A week later, the New York Times reported that Western nations were falling short in their efforts to provide Ukraine with the necessary amounts of weapons systems and munitions.
The Times noted that most of the promised German-made Leopard tanks were still being refurbished. The paper said it would take the EU and US industries “years to catch up with the demand” of Kiev, which are “essentially limitless.”
Ukraine has also repeatedly criticized its Western backers over the delays and supposed lack of sufficient supplies.
Moscow, meanwhile, has repeatedly warned that “pumping” Kiev with arms and ammunition will only prolong the conflict and risks a dangerous escalation, potentially even a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO.
- Press release
- 5 May 2023
- 16:40
EU joint procurement of ammunition and missiles for Ukraine: Council agrees €1 billion support under the European Peace Facility
The Council today adopted an assistance measure worth €1 billion under the European Peace Facility (EPF) that will further contribute to strengthening the capabilities and resilience of Ukraine to defend its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and protect the civilian population against the ongoing Russian military aggression.
The assistance measure will finance the provision to the Ukrainian Armed Forces of 155-mm-calibre artillery rounds and, if requested, missiles which will be jointly procured by EU member states from the European defence industry.
Today’s decision is another major step to deliver more ammunition to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Armed Forces need substantial amounts of ammunition to defend the Ukrainian people and territory. They need it fast. Together with the previous decision to swiftly provide ammunition from existing stocks, we are committing €2 billion to this purpose, bringing the total EU military support to Ukraine to €5.6 billion.
--- Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
The measure will support joint procurement of ammunition and missiles from economic operators established in the EU or Norway, and producing these ammunition and missiles in the EU or Norway. The supply chains of these operators may include operators established or having their production outside of the EU or Norway. The measure will also cover deliveries of ammunition and missiles which have undergone an important stage of their manufacturing in the EU or Norway which consists of final assembly.
To be eligible for EPF reimbursement, procurement contracts or purchase orders will need to be concluded before 30 September 2023 in the context of an existing European Defence Agency (EDA) project or through complementary joint acquisition projects led by a member state.
Today’s decision implements track 2 of the Council agreement of 20 March 2023 on a three-track approach intended to speed up the delivery and joint procurement of artillery ammunition with a view to providing one million rounds of artillery ammunition to Ukraine within twelve months following the Council agreement.
It was preceded by the approval of another support package under the EPF worth €1 billion that allowed the EU to reimburse member states for ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition as well as missiles donated to Ukraine from existing stocks or from the reprioritisation of existing orders during the period 9 February to 31 May 2023 (track 1). Track 3 of the ammunition package, in the form of an Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), has been adopted by the European Commission on 3 May 2023.
The Council will receive regular updates on the implementation of the assistance measure in order to monitor progress in the implementation of the Council agreement on the three-track approach.
Together with the previous packages of military support, the assistance measure adopted today brings the total EU contribution for Ukraine to support the delivery of military equipment under the EPF to €5.6 billion.
On top of that, the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) continues to enhance the military capability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reinforced with two EPF assistance measures worth €61 million to finance the provision of equipment necessary for the training.
These efforts prove once more that the EU remains steadfast in its support for the Ukrainian military in defending the country against the illegal Russian aggression.
Background
On 2 March 2023, the High Representative received a request from Ukraine for the EU to assist the Ukrainian Armed Forces with the supply of 155-mm-calibre artillery rounds.
On 20 March 2023, the Council agreed on a three-track approach with a view to speeding up delivery and joint procurement, aiming at one million rounds of artillery ammunition for Ukraine in a joint effort within the following 12 months, and called for the swift implementation of those three tracks.
On 13 April 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/810, to implement track 1, worth EUR 1 billion, under the assistance measure approved in Decision 2022/338. This track will finance the reimbursement of donated materiel from existing stocks or from reprioritisation of existing orders, delivered during the period 9 February 2023 - 31 May 2023, regarding ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition, and, if requested, missiles.
On 3 May 2023, the European Commission adopted the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) thereby implementing track 3 of the approach agreed on 20 March. The Commission proposal introduces targeted measures - including financing - aimed at ramping up the EU’s production capacity and addressing the current shortage of ammunition and missiles as well as their components.
The EPF was created in 2021 to support partners around the world in the areas of military and defence, with the ultimate aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability.
