31.08.2023, Vienna.
Austria has not supplied weapons to Ukraine and refuses to do so in the future, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told journalists, Ö1-Journal radio reported on August 31.
He commented on Brussels’ plans to allocate €20 billion in military aid to Kiev for the period from 2024 to 2027.
“Austria’s position is clear. We are not supplying weapons – and we will not do so in the future,” Schallenberg said.
The minister added that Vienna had previously contributed €153 million to the European Peace Facility, which was supposed to be used for EU security issues. Now Austria will not contribute money to help Kiev, as it is incompatible with its neutral status.
Initially, the European Peace Facility received €500 million to pay for the supply of weapons to Kiev, but these funds quickly ran out, after which the size of the fund was tripled. At the same time in 2022, the fund received requests for a total amount of more than €3 billion, and disputes began over who to pay first. In June 2023, the fund was increased by €3.5 billion.
At the same time, on August 31, the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell said that it is not yet possible to unblock the next tranche for Kiev in the amount of €500 million, as Hungary opposed the allocation of funds. Budapest is also against the creation of a new fund.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
