EU releases new $7.1-B aid for Ukraine
Amount is for air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radars.
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Amount is for air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radars.
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BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The European Union (EU) said Monday that it had released another 6.1 billion euros ($7.1 billion) in military aid for Ukraine to boost its air defenses against Russian missile attacks.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced the move ahead of talks on Monday between Ukraine and its allies on stepping up military support.
“On Ukraine’s Independence Day, we show our unfaltering support. Today, we approved €6.1 billion for the air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radars that Ukraine urgently needs,” Von der Leyen said on X.
“With 376 missile strikes recorded in July alone, reinforcing Ukraine’s defenses has become increasingly urgent,” the EU commission said in a separate statement.
The finance is part of a 90 billion-euro loan, including 60 billion euros in military aid, that the EU has said will go to Ukraine. Some 16 billion euros has already been allocated and 8.5 billion euros sent to Kyiv.
Ukraine is desperate to secure more missile interceptors, particularly Patriot air defense systems, to fight off Russian attacks on its cities.
Starlink alternative
Ukraine and Russia are both developing their own alternatives to Starlink, the satellite system used for battlefield communications whose access is ultimately controlled by tech titan Elon Musk, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Musk last year restricted Russian access to Starlink satellites over the Ukraine war. Experts say this has probably disrupted Russian forces’ tactical command and restricted their offensive capacity.
“The Russians are building a Starlink equivalent together with the Chinese, and they believe they will have this project ready by December 2026,” Zelensky said in remarks made public Sunday.
He added that Ukraine would not “just sit and wait for Russia and China” and was “implementing a similar project with a European country.”
“We have begun testing it,” he said.
Ukraine is seeking authorization from Musk and the United States administration to use Starlink satellites for operations in Russian territory.
Musk has shifted his stance on Ukraine several times since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Ukraine’s contacts with him were reportedly handled by former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was recently ousted.
