KYIV Post – Ukraine’s Global Voice Since 1995
Military and Humanitarian Aid Pouring into Ukraine
By AFP – Published February 28, 2022
Greek soldiers wait to unload aid for Ukraine at Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Athens, on Feb. 27, 2022 (Photo by Tatiana BOLARI / AFP)Photo by AFP
Since Russia invaded last Thursday, many countries have started to send military or humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The United States, Canada and 19 European countries have so far responded to Ukrainian appeals for military equipment. Washington is sending an extra $350 million (313 million euros) in military aid to Kyiv to bring its total support to more than a billion dollars over the last year.
For the first time in its history, the EU is financing the buying and delivery of arms after leaders agreed to transport weapons worth 450 million euros to Kyiv. Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says some nations are sending fighter jets.
Canada is sending lethal military weaponry and loaning Kyiv around $392 million to help the city defend itself.
While Germany has broken the longstanding taboo of not exporting arms to conflict zones by vowing to send Ukraine 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles and nine howitzers. It is also donating 14 armoured vehicles and 10,000 tonnes of fuel.
Sweden is also breaking its historic neutral stance to send 5,000 anti-tank rockets to Ukraine, as well as field rations and body armour. It’s the first time Sweden has sent weapons to a country in armed conflict since Stalin invaded neighbouring Finland in 1939.
France, which has already sent help, is dispatching more military equipment, as well as fuel and humanitarian aid. Paris says it has reacted to earlier Ukrainian requests for defensive anti-aircraft and digital weapons.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to “provide further UK support to Ukraine in the coming days”, without specifying details.
Belgium says it will supply Ukraine with 3,000 more automatic rifles and 200 anti-tank weapons, as well as 3,800 tons of fuel. The Dutch Defence Ministry says it is sending “200 Stinger missiles as soon as possible”, which follows a shipment of sniper rifles and helmets dispatched on Saturday. This is on top of the 20 million euros of humanitarian aid it has already promised.
Prague is sending 4,000 mortars and an arsenal of 30,000 pistols, 7,000 assault rifles, 3,000 machine guns, as well as scores of sniper rifles and a million bullets. The Czechs have already promised Kyiv 4,000 mortars worth 1.5 million euros, which have yet to be delivered.
Portugal is giving Ukraine night-vision goggles, bulletproof vests, helmets, grenades, ammunition and automatic G3 rifles, while Greece is sending “defence equipment”.
Romania, which shares a border with Ukraine, is offering to treat the wounded in its 11 military hospitals. Bucharest is also sending fuel, bulletproof vests, helmets and other “military material” worth three million euros.
Humanitarian Aid
Rome has sent 110 million euros in immediate aid to the Ukrainian government as “a concrete sign of our support”. The US and Britain are also contributing. Washington announced $54 million in new humanitarian aid for Ukraine to be spent through NGOs, with London adding 48 million euros.
France, which is bringing a humanitarian aid resolution to the UN Security Council on Feb. 28, has sent 33 tonnes of aid to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Another 33 tonnes are being sent for those who have fled into Moldova.
The Dutch government says it is sending 20 million euros in humanitarian aid. Spain has promised to send 20 tonnes of aid to Ukraine, mostly medical and defensive equipment such as bulletproof vests.
Israel says it is sending 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid, such as medical equipment, water purifiers, tents and sleeping bags.
Turkey’s disaster relief agency is sending three lorries full of aid to Moldova for Ukrainian refugees. The Red Crescent is sending help to people fleeing into Romania.
Greece is sending a shipment of humanitarian aid through Poland.