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2025-07-31 08:19:40
[Media: EU Countries Have Applied for Arms Loans to Help Kyiv Purchase Weapons] Politico, citing sources, reported that several EU countries have applied for loans under a new arms procurement mechanism and plan to use the funds to jointly purchase weapons for Ukraine. European Commission spokesman Thomas Reinier stated on July 29 that Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Spain, Finland, Hungary, and Lithuania have formally applied for loans under the new arms procurement mechanism. He added that approximately 20 EU countries are expected to apply. The report stated, "Ukraine's key European allies plan to request tens of billions of euros in loans from the EU to jointly purchase weapons... and strengthen their own defense capabilities." Sources stated that France may also apply, while Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands are expected to decline. Sources stated that Belgium will apply for loans of 7 to 11 billion euros under the program, while Austria and Italy are reluctant to apply due to concerns about increasing existing debt. Furthermore, according to an unnamed Ukrainian diplomat, EU countries are also exploring the possibility of purchasing weapons directly from Ukrainian companies through the SAFE instrument.
