A serious diplomatic dispute has erupted in Brussels that could impact the pace of military aid to Ukraine. At the heart of the conflict are €6.6 billion remaining in the accounts of the European Peace Facility (EPF) after Hungary lifted its veto on unlocking the funds. EU member states cannot agree on who should receive this money and exactly how it should be distributed.
Two Opposing Strategies
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the total spending by EU countries under the fund has already reached approximately €43 billion. This creates a colossal financial burden and forms obligations for reimbursements that currently cannot be fully covered due to a lack of liquid funds.
Germany has taken a hardline stance: Berlin proposes directing all available €6.6 billion directly to support Ukraine. German representatives argue this is necessary to maintain European solidarity. The German Ministry of Defense emphasizes that Germany has already allocated significant sums to aid Kyiv, so redistributing additional hundreds of millions of euros will not be critical for them.
Poland, on the other hand, insists on full reimbursement of its expenses. Warsaw demands the return of approximately 2 billion zlotys (about €450 million) spent on weaponry transferred to Ukraine. Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk stated that Poland categorically disagrees with attempts to change the existing rules for fund distribution retroactively.
Risks to Weapon Deliveries
Polish officials warn of the direct consequences of refusing full reimbursement. In their view, reducing compensation will directly impact the volume of military support that donor countries will be able to provide in the future. Warsaw considers it unacceptable to review conditions after the aid has effectively already been sent.
Slovakia and several other states share a similar position with Poland, demanding the full return of invested funds. They advocate for a mechanism that guarantees national budgets will not suffer losses from participation in the program.
Position of Other Players
There is no consensus within the European Union. Some countries, including the Scandinavian states, support Berlin's line, believing that the fund's resources should be reinvested in supporting Kyiv.
France occupies an intermediate position. Paris advocates for the partial implementation of the EU plan but insists on a strict condition: weapon procurement must be carried out primarily with European manufacturers to stimulate the local defense sector.
What Happens Next?
It is expected that the issue will soon be moved to a technical level for detailed elaboration, after which it will be considered by EU ambassadors. For now, the parties remain firm in their opinions.
Amidst these debates, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed that Berlin intends to allocate €300 million to support a Czech initiative related to ammunition supplies for Ukraine. This decision demonstrates that, despite the disputes over fund distribution, concrete steps to support Kyiv continue.