“Canva of anti-Russian actions”: how the EU and NATO are stepping up the pumping of Ukraine with lethal weapons

For the first time in history, the EU will finance the purchase and supply of weapons and equipment for Ukraine, which, according to Brussels, "was under attack." 

“We will use €500 million from the European Peace Fund to provide military support to Ukraine,” the European Commission said in a statement posted on its Twitter page after the meeting of EU defense ministers on February 28.

Additional support for Ukraine.

pic.twitter.com/TZmz44ZwGH

— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) February 28, 2022

Earlier, Western states, including the EU and NATO, condemned the special operation of the Russian Federation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, announced on February 24 by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Moscow emphasizes that this was a forced measure designed to assist the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in repelling aggression from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, explained during a press conference, the member countries of the association intend to "increase the volume of bilateral military support to Ukraine and supplement these efforts with EU funding."

“In this situation, our support for the armed forces of Ukraine is extremely important.

They need ammunition, new medical aid, any defensive weapon.

And together with the countries (EU.

) - in addition to the efforts of some of them - we intend to provide resources from EU funding, which it was decided to use yesterday.

And everyone - I emphasize - everyone agreed with this, ”said Borrell.

LIVE NOW: HR/VP @JosepBorrellF press conference following EU Defense Ministers meeting https://t.co/xEyLIR2IJV

— European External Action Service - EEAS 🇪🇺 (@eu_eeas) February 28, 2022

He also noted that military assistance to Ukraine will be "delivered to those countries that have a border with Ukraine."

“I believe that it is no secret to anyone what class of weapons we are talking about.

I will repeat what I said yesterday that we are talking about defense weapons and ammunition.

Armament and ammunition of all calibers that will allow Ukraine to defend itself against aggression,” the head of EU diplomacy said.

However, Hungary has already stated that no lethal weapons will be delivered to Ukraine through its territory, since they can "become the object of violent military operations."

This was announced by the head of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Peter Szijjarto, in his video message posted on Facebook.

According to him, Budapest will not "get involved in the war."

As the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, clarified earlier, we are talking about the supply of large-caliber and anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, as well as "the most diverse equipment" designed to "repel aggression."

“Countries (EU.

) must provide these weapons, and we need to coordinate their actions, as well as possible additional ways to dispose of these resources,” he said.

Discussing with EU Defense Ministers the situation on the ground in #Ukraine following #Russia's invasion, and how to further support Ukraine's armed forces and use our €500 million support package.#StandWithUkraine#EUDefencehttps://t.co/aqbHrw7aZXpic.twitter.com/ com/AiMnj8Uymh

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) February 28, 2022

At the same time, Borrell welcomed the Russian-Ukrainian talks.

Germany also supported them, which, however, had previously approved the transfer to Kiev of 400 German anti-tank guns from the Netherlands, nine D-30 howitzers and ammunition from Estonia.

Russia's response

Moscow reacted to these measures of the EU countries.

According to the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, the supply of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine will destabilize the situation.

“The supply of arms, weapons, ammunition to the territory of Ukraine, from our point of view, will become an extremely dangerous and destabilizing factor, which in any case will in no way contribute to either stability in Ukraine or the restoration of order,” Peskov told reporters on February 28.

In the long run, such a move could have "much more dangerous consequences," he said.

“This once again confirms the correctness of Russia in the measures that are being taken,” Peskov added.

• Kremlin

• Gettyimages.ru

• © Vasil Nanev / EyeEm

In turn, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called outrageous Germany's decision to start deliveries of lethal weapons to Ukraine.

“Too many sad associations are caused by the prospect of further “military” pumping of Kyiv from Berlin,” Zakharova said.

In addition, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the EU decision to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, stressing that the individuals and structures of the association involved in this will be held accountable "for any consequences of such actions."

“They cannot fail to understand the degree of danger of the consequences,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also noted that the EU decision "is self-revealing."

"Marks the end of European integration as a 'pacifist' project to reconcile European peoples after World War II," the statement said.

“Another myth that was propagated by the EU in the past was also finally dispelled – that their unilateral restrictions, illegitimate in international legal terms, are not directed against the Russian people.”

Through NATO

Recall that the supply of weapons to Ukraine, in addition to the EU, was reported by the North Atlantic Alliance.

So, on February 27, a press release was published on the bloc's website, which stated that NATO countries were strengthening their "practical support" for Kyiv.

“Thousands of anti-tank weapons, hundreds of air defense missiles, as well as thousands of small arms and ammunition are sent to Ukraine,” the report says.

Belgium, Germany, Greece, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, the Czech Republic and Estonia have already made or claim large deliveries of military equipment to Ukrainian territory.

In turn, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson said in a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he would do everything possible to ensure the delivery of military assistance from the UK and its allies to Ukraine.

Later, on February 28, Croatia announced that it would send infantry weapons and protective equipment worth 124 million kuna (about €16.5 million) to Kiev.

Earlier it was reported that the Netherlands will transfer 200 Stinger complexes to Kiev.

In addition, Canada announced on February 28 that it would send about $20 million worth of military assistance to Ukraine, primarily body armor, helmets and night vision goggles.

Later, Ottawa informed that it would also supply anti-tank weapons to Kiev.

At the same time, as the press service of NATO notes, Ukraine has already received "critical weapons" from the countries of the alliance, including anti-aircraft missiles and Javelins.

“I welcome the fact that the allies are stepping up support for Ukraine by providing additional military equipment,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was quoted as saying by the press service of the alliance.

It is also noted that "in the context of the current crisis," the bloc is helping to coordinate Ukraine's requests for assistance.

As Stoltenberg said on February 28 during a conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO allies are “increasing support” by providing Ukraine with air defense missiles, anti-tank weapons, and humanitarian and financial assistance.

I just spoke with President @ZelenskyyUa & commended him for the bravery of the people & armed forces of #Ukraine.

#NATO Allies are stepping up support with air-defence missiles, anti-tank weapons, as well as humanitarian & financial aid.

— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) February 28, 2022

At the same time, in an interview with NBC News, the NATO Secretary General ruled out the possibility of the alliance introducing a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

According to him, the bloc has no intentions "to enter Ukraine either by land or by air."

In turn, the press service of the Ukrainian Navy said that Bulgaria, Poland and Slovakia will send 70 MiG-29 and Su-25 combat aircraft to Kiev.

It is noted that, if necessary, they will be able to be based on Polish airfields, from where Ukrainian pilots will perform combat missions.

"Hostile actions against Russia"

As Vladimir Olenchenko, senior researcher at the Center for European Studies at IMEMO RAS, noted in an interview with RT, the decision of the EU and NATO countries to send more weapons to Ukraine is “thoughtless and extremely dangerous.”

“But such a measure fits into their general outline of anti-Russian actions and further undermines the situation in Ukraine,” the analyst said.

At the same time, Olenchenko drew attention to the fact that the statements of the European Commission, Borrell and Stoltenberg on the supply of weapons to Ukraine were made at a time when negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow were underway.

“The parties were then looking for a way out of the current situation.

Against this background, the actions of the EU look inflammatory and provocative.

Once again, the European authorities, in this case the EU, show that they are not interested in either Ukraine or Russia, they are interested in a clash between them, ”the expert emphasized.

• Deliveries of weapons to Ukraine from Western countries

• AFP

• © Sergei SUPINSKY

Olenchenko also noted that the EU and NATO arms supplies "give Kyiv unnecessary hopes" for Western military assistance.

“The West has repeatedly admitted that it will not fight on the territory of Ukraine, but now it speaks allegorically, but the meaning is this: continue to oppose the Russian Federation, and we will support you with the supply of weapons and other measures,” he said.

Olenchenko also believes that military assistance from the EU and NATO as a whole “could play a cruel joke on them,” since such activity could lead not only to an aggravation of the situation in Ukraine, but also to a clash between Russia and the North Atlantic alliance.

“Moscow takes into account and understands such risks.

At the same time, Western countries pretend or really do not understand where the desire to militarize Ukraine can lead them, ”the analyst believes.

In turn, Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics of the Moscow State Pedagogical University, stressed that the supply of Western weapons to Kiev justified the fears of the Russian Federation, which were indicated in the security guarantees offered by Moscow to the United States and NATO.

“In fact, we are talking about the fact that Ukraine is not a NATO country, but nevertheless, the alliance states began massive supplies of weapons to Ukraine.

And what would happen if the Ukrainian side was part of the bloc, it’s even scary to imagine.

Now we are seeing hostile actions from NATO against Russia and we understand why the Russian Federation is sounding the alarm because of this situation, ”he said.

Shapovalov also noted that the supply of weapons by the West to Ukraine is aimed at "escalating the conflict."

“Each supply of this kind is the death of new civilians, both in the LPR and DPR, and in Ukrainian cities, given that Kiev distributes weapons to the population uncontrollably, besides, nationalists who have experience of military operations in Ukraine are released from prisons in Ukraine. Donbass,” the expert noted.

Shapovalov also believes that Western military assistance gives the Kiev authorities the illusion of support from the EU and NATO.

“But the Western military and diplomats left Ukraine, they recommended the same to their citizens.

Moreover, the Secretary General of the alliance said that the bloc does not intend to take Ukraine into NATO, and even more so to fight on its territory, ”concluded the analyst.