BRUSSELS: The European Union member states on Wednesday agreed for additional five billion euros to a central fund to pay for arms sent to Ukraine.
The EU move gives a positive boost to Kyiv who is struggling to hold back Russia.
Belgium, which is the current EU president, said ambassadors from the 27 countries had agreed in principle to support arms supplies to Kyiv in 2024 with additional five billion euros.
Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, the European Union for the first time has agreed an aid to finance weapons deliveries to a country at conflict.
It has so far committed 6.1 billion euros from its central European Peace Facility to reimburse cost of weapons sent by the EU member states to Ukraine.
The recent plan of an extra five billion euros was delayed for months due to some wrangling from France and Germany.
Germany said its support for Kyiv should be offset against its aid and Paris insisted only those weapons should be reimbursed which are manufactured in Europe.
Since Russia started its full-scale war against Ukraine, Belgium says around 28 billion euros have been given from member states to support military of Ukraine.
The announcement of the latest funds for Ukraine comes as Kyiv’s forces are facing immense pressure along the front line because of shortage of ammunition.
The United States has recently announced a fresh $300 million arms package for Ukraine, but a further $60 billion fund remains blocked by Republicans in Congress.
Meanwhile, Russia has enhanced its arms production and has also received major deliveries of weapons from some countries in Asia.
