Politico: The EU Is Preparing Decision On Military Aid To Ukraine Following The U.S.

The meeting will be held on Monday.

European leaders praised the adoption by the United States of a $60.8 billion package of military assistance to Ukraine. At the same time, some warned that Kyiv desperately needs additional support from Europe on the eve of what they expect to be a brutal offensive by Russian troops in the coming months.

Politico reported.

According to Politico, European NATO allies promised to intensify the supply of ready-made air defence systems to the Ukrainian forces before the weekend.

“I welcome that the U.S. The House of Representatives has approved a major new package of aid to Ukraine. Ukraine is using the weapons provided by NATO allies to destroy Russian combat capabilities. This makes us all safer, in Europe and North America,"NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on Facebook.

For their part, some European leaders took advantage of the U.S. vote to urge Europe not to calm down and not lose momentum now, while Kyiv is still waiting for new American support.

“Hope this vote encourages all allies to look through their warehouses and do more,” Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström added that now is also the time to remember that the EU will now increase its own production of arms, ammunition and supplies to help Ukraine on a long-term basis.

“Tonight’s vote shows the necessity of this. We have to do our own homework as well,” he added.

His Czech counterpart, Jan Lipavský, echoed the sentiment, saying: “Europe must do more, too. Our hesitation and indecision in effectively supporting Ukraine just motivate the Kremlin to further aggression that costs more lives.”

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also welcomed the U.S. legislative move, saying, “This is a day of optimism for Ukraine and European security.”

A crucial test for Europe will come on Monday, April 22, when the EU's 27 foreign ministers gather in Luxembourg to plan future military aid for Kyiv. Ukraine's foreign and defence ministers are scheduled to join the discussion virtually.