BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Until now, there has been no such instrument allowing the European Union to supply a third country with weapons; such decisions were made only on the bilateral level between an EU member state and a third country.
"With the changes adopted today, the EU will also be able to finance training and non-lethal equipment for third-country military forces," the group's press release read.
"The financial help provided for in the revision of the instrument, even if modest in terms of budget, allows us to fill the existing gaps. It’s a missing link in the CSDP [Common Security and Defence Policy]. While the European missions and operations in the field have been asking for this necessary tool for years, it is imperative to have the option of financing 'civil actions' by the armed forces in the fragile countries," Arnaud Danjean, member of the EU parliament from EPP's group said as quoted in the release.
Ukraine, which has been mired in military conflict in the southeastern regions for three years, has repeatedly asked for supplies of lethal and non-lethal weapons from the European Union and the United States.
The majority of European politicians spoke against the supply of arms to Ukraine. For example, former Foreign Minister of Germany and now German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier previously stated that the supply of arms to Ukraine is a very risky and counterproductive way out of the crisis.
Russia has repeatedly warned against plans to supply arms to Ukraine, since this step will only lead to an escalation of the conflict in the Donbas region.
