By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) - EU members reached a deal in principle Wednesday on the Ukraine Assistance Fund which would pave the way to support Ukraine with $5.4 billion, the Belgian Presidency of the European Council wrote on X.
EU ambassadors agreed on a reform of the European Peace Facility to support Ukraine with a €5 billion ($5.4 billion) budget for 2024, it said,
"The remains determined to provide lasting support to & ensure that the country gets the military equipment it needs to defend itself," it added.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said Ukraine needs more arms and equipment and reiterated that the EU will provide in sufficient quantities and in a coordinated manner.
"Europe is true to its commitments. Our freedom is at stake," she wrote on X.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the fund will allow the bloc to step up its military support to Ukraine as he welcomed the deal.
"The message is clear: we will support #Ukraine with whatever it takes to prevail," he noted.
The Russia-Ukraine war, which entered its third year at the end of last month, has killed at least 10,500 civilians and injured more than 19,800, according to UN figures.