Ireland to donate €120m aid to Ukraine
As the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, an informal meeting of defence ministers last week agreed a €5.6bn package of military assistance to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility. File picture: AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko
Ireland expects to contribute over €120m in non-lethal military aid to Ukraine this year under an EU fund, the Department of Defence has confirmed.
The Defence Forces also plans to carry out additional training programmes for the Ukrainian armed forces in the coming months.
As the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, an informal meeting of defence ministers last week agreed a €5.6bn package of military assistance to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility.
This included €5.22bn for lethal equipment and €380m for non-lethal equipment.
In response to queries on Ireland’s commitments, the Department of Defence said: “In line with the programme for government, Ireland constructively abstains on all lethal equipment elements of the support packages. Our full share of funding [approximately €122m to date] is, therefore, directed exclusively toward non-lethal support.
“In addition, Ireland’s contribution towards the common costs of the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine totals €4.16m to date. Further contributions by Ireland are likely this calendar year.
“Following agreement reached at the European Council last week in respect of the €5bn Ukraine Assistance Fund, Ireland expects to make a contribution of €121.5m to the fund in 2024.”
It said that, through the EU Military Assistance Mission, the Defence Forces has provided seven modules of training to the Ukrainian armed forces in Germany and Cyprus.
“These included two training modules in demining and clearance, three modules of tactical combat casualty care/combat lifesaver [in Germany] and two modules of drill instructor training [in Germany],” it said.
“The Defence Forces have a draft programme of training to be provided up to March 2024 which is subject to regular updating.”
It said the Defence Forces deliver training courses that come within their capacity and meet the requested needs of the Ukrainian army.
The statement said that, in relation to the EU commitment to supply Ukraine with 1m artillery shells by March, “Ireland notes” that the EU will have achieved one third of that target by March and two thirds by the end of the year.
In relation to the decision to send an EU navy mission to escort merchant ships along the Red Sea facing the attacks by the Houthis, the department said that Ireland had no plans to participate.
However, it said Ireland acknowledges that the need for containment of the recent attacks in the Red Sea was “undisputable”.
In relation to EU battlegroups, the department said the German-led battlegroup that Ireland is participating in will be stood up during the year and on standby next.
“By the time the battlegroup is fully stood-up, it is anticipated the strength of the Defence Forces contribution to the battlegroup will be approximately 182 personnel,” it said.
The statement said there were currently nine personnel deployed to the force headquarters in Germany and a further 10 have recently taken up new staff roles in France.
