Luxembourg gave 60% of its defense budget to Ukraine

The revelation is by François Bausch. The defense minister said he supported the urgent delivery of lethal weapons to Ukraine.

Russian invasion

“Luxembourg was one of the first EU countries to support Ukraine with lethal weapons. It has done so since the first days of the aggression”, said the Luxembourg Minister of Defense this Wednesday. François Bausch was speaking at the entrance of a council of European defense ministers gathered in Stockholm to discuss ways to support Ukraine and urgently send arms and ammunition.

In 2023 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development plans to invest a total of more than €1.5 billion in Ukraine.

Bausch pointed out that Luxembourg delivered, in 2022, 60% of its Defense budget to Ukraine. And he also said that it is urgent for the European Union Defense sector to gather help as soon as possible for the country that is suffering an escalation of the war. “We are now in an emergency because the next few months will be decisive for Ukraine. We have to implement and we have to take decisions this morning”, he said at the entrance to the informal meeting to prepare for the council on the 20th of March, which will bring together in Brussels the heads of Defense and the ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 27 Member States.

“On the 20th, decisions will be taken on joint arms purchases and joining our forces in Europe to deliver lethal weapons to Ukraine, because now is the time to take decisions”, he explained to journalists, at the entrance to the meeting. “It is no longer time to talk, it is time to act”, considered the Luxembourger.

Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Kharkiv and Odessa on Thursday.

Europe shifting to war mentality and economy

Throughout the European Union, bellicose discourse is growing. At Wednesday’s meeting in the Swedish capital, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton urged ministers present to change their mindset to a “war mentality”. “It is absolutely mandatory that we enter a war economy, both in terms of supply and the defense industry.” The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, also spoke of the urgency of increasing the supply of lethal material and ammunition for troops in Ukraine and of changing mentalities.

“We are in wartime and we have to have a wartime mentality, I am very sorry. I preferred to talk about peace and peace negotiations. Unfortunately I have to continue talking about ammunition because the war continues. We have to keep the door open at any time for peace talks, but today we have to focus on reducing costs and reducing the delivery time of ammunition”, he said at the end of yesterday’s meeting.

Yana Rykhlitska, 29, known as the “Angel of Bakhmut” was a “true hero”, says the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

The increase in support for Ukraine at a stage that European politicians consider decisive for the country’s future has been gathering supporters among European leaders. “For Ukraine to win the peace, it has to win the war”, summarized Josep Borrell this Wednesday.

Borrell said he proposed raising a billion euros from the European Peace Facility to finance the purchase of munitions for Ukrainian defense. This proposal will be voted on at the European Council on March 23. A proposal by Estonia for a joint purchase of arms and ammunition to be delivered to Ukraine will also be voted on.

In addition to sending war material, the European Union has been training Ukrainian soldiers in Poland. By the end of 2023, 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers will have received specialized military training.

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At the first summit of EU representatives in a country at the height of war, the decision was to move forward with the integration process.

While in Kiev the celebrations of the 31 years of independence are made with fear of worse attacks on the symbolic day, Europe allies itself with the country at war, with the promise of help as long as it is needed.

However, Luxembourg stood out for having the highest percentage against Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. 38% of respondents are against it, compared to just 9% in Portugal, 25% in Belgium or 28% in France.

François Bausch met with other EU ministers to discuss political and strategic direction on the EU’s approach to defense and security.

After about five hours of discussion, the leaders of the 27 EU countries signed a declaration which at the same time guarantees support for Ukraine and Zelensky’s desire to belong to the European Union, but in no way makes a commitment on Ukraine. enter the EU now.

Josep Borrell assured that the mobilization and delivery of weapons to Ukraine, discussed today by EU Defense Ministers, is well underway, but declined to provide details, as “Russia would very much like” to know them.