The need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

 MEPs spoke in favor of a significant increase in military assistance to Ukraine and new measures to overcome the shortage of ammunition, DW reports.

All countries of the European Union and their NATO allies must annually allocate at least 0.25 percent of their GDP to military support for Ukraine, according to the European Parliament. This country must be given everything it needs to repel Russian aggression, lawmakers said. On Thursday, February 29, 451 European parliamentarians voted for the corresponding resolution in Strasbourg, 46 people were against it, and 49 abstained.

The text of the resolution points to the huge discrepancy in the level of military support provided to Kyiv by EU countries as a percentage of their GDP. Parliamentarians called on the largest EU member states with large defense-industrial potential to urgently increase assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. MEPs are convinced that there should be no self-restrictions regarding military assistance to Ukraine.

They called for investment in the European defense industry to significantly increase production to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and replenish the depleted stocks of the EU countries. "Ukraine especially needs modern air defense systems, long-range missiles such as TAURUS, Storm Shadow/SCALP and others, modern combat aircraft, various types of artillery and ammunition (in particular 155 mm), drones and weapons to combat them," - emphasized in the text.

In connection with the shortage of ammunition on the battlefield in Ukraine, the European Parliament called for an increase in the European Peace Fund and its use for joint procurement for the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the world market. According to the deputies, EU governments should immediately begin a dialogue with arms manufacturers to ensure that the production and supply, in particular, of ammunition and missiles for Ukraine will be prioritized over other orders. "Insufficient and untimely delivery of weapons and ammunition risks undermining the efforts made so far," Strasbourg said.

Parliamentarians recalled that Ukraine’s main goal is victory in the war against the Russian Federation, which involves ousting all Russian forces, its supporters and allies from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. “This goal can only be achieved through continuous, sustainable and steadily growing supplies of all types of conventional weapons to Ukraine without exception,” the resolution says.

According to the European Parliament, the outcome of this war and the position of the international community towards it will play a decisive role in influencing the future actions of other authoritarian regimes.