Page 34 - UKRRptJan22

Antony Blinken announced $1.85bn in military aid to Ukraine in a package that will include a Patriot missile battery and precision-guided bombs for fighter jets on December 21. The new $1B package will provide Ukraine with expanded air defence and precision-strike capabilities, as well as additional munitions and critical equipment that Ukraine needs to defend itself on the battlefield effectively, said Blinken in the statement.
US Senate approves amendment to transfer seized assets of Russian oligarchs to Ukraine. "This amendment would allow the Department of Justice through the Secretary of State to transfer proceeds from seized oligarchs' assets or other sanctioned entities to the people of Ukraine," US Senator Lindsey Graham said. "It will be a godsend to the long-suffering people of Ukraine. It will be a relief to the American taxpayer... It will be a bad day for oligarchs."
The EU agrees on an €18B Ukraine aid package after Hungary drops its opposition. EU member states have approved plans to provide an €18B aid package for Ukraine in 2023 after Hungary dropped its opposition in return for funding from the EU, reported CNN. Hungary had initially blocked the package last week amid a long-running standoff over EU aid. Brussels had called for EU funds for Hungary to be frozen due to concerns over corruption and insufficient reforms to strengthen the rule of law. However, on Monday evening, the EU struck a deal with Hungary. Under the new agreement, Brussels will give Budapest $6.1B in grants to enable Hungary to foster its economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and finance green and digital transitions. It will still freeze some funds, around $6.9B, but that is less than the nearly $8B the EU had planned to suspend.
The EU Council has increased the fund that helps Ukraine with weapons by €2B. On December 12, the EU Council approved a decision to increase funding for the European Peace Fund in 2023 by €2B, announcing the European Council's website. There is still the possibility that the fund's financial ceiling can grow, and by 2027, it will amount to €5.5B. The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, noted that the adopted decision will provide funding to continue providing specific military support to European partners' armed forces. The final decision on increasing the fund will be made at the beginning of 2023. The European Peace Fund was established in March 2021 and provides military aid to European partners, including Ukraine.
The EU allocates €533mn for interregional programs for Ukraine and Moldova. The European Commission has approved four new programs with the participation of 10 member states, Ukraine, and Moldova, in the amount of €533mn. The EC website says that the programs aim to develop cross-border and transnational cooperation, accelerate the transition to green technologies, and support health care and education. The program fund will be additionally financed by €26.2mn that had been previously allocated to the Russian Federation and Belarus. Of the total amount, €215mn will be directed to transnational cooperation in the Danube region in the field of innovation and renewable energy sources. Another €187mn will be allocated for cross-border cooperation between Poland and Ukraine in the field of nature protection, health protection, and border management. And €54mn is earmarked for cross-border cooperation between Romania and Ukraine to improve education, health care, and nature protection. In addition, €77mn will be devoted to border cooperation between Romania and Moldova.
34 UKRAINE Country Report January 2023 www.intellinews.com