The European Union may significantly increase military aid to Ukraine if US President Donald Trump fails to convince Russian leader Vladimir Putin to make peace, said in "Ex" EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrew Kubilius, quoted by Ukrinform, BTA reports.
"If Trump does not convince Putin to make peace, we can very quickly present more convincing arguments for peace - by significantly increasing our military support for Ukraine," he noted.
Kubilus added that so far the European Union and the US have allocated about 40 billion euros euros per year for military aid to Ukraine.
"But we can spend the same amount on purchasing modern weapons in Ukraine itself, which will cost about half as much as those produced in the EU or the US. This will practically double the volume of weapons that Ukraine receives for the same 40 billion euros. The real value of our support will increase to 80 billion euros", he stressed.
The European Commissioner also explained where the EU will find funds to strengthen military support for Ukraine.
"The new SAFE loans, supported by the EU, provide Member States with exactly this opportunity - to use the loans to increase military support for Ukraine. This is how the "Peace through Strength" formula can really work in practice. SAFE loans mean strength for Ukraine!", noted Kubilius.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stressed the importance of launching the SAFE instrument as soon as possible to ensure that Ukraine will be able to join the joint procurement of defense products with the European Union member states, Ukrinform recalls.