According to the sources, Borrell had asked EU governments to raise the financial ceiling on the European Peace Facility (EPF), a fund that has already allocated some 4.6 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine.

However, Borrell’s proposal requires approval from the EU’s national governments.  The fund, established in 2021, aims to help developing countries buy military equipment.

But the 27-member union quickly decided to use it to get weapons to Ukraine after Russia’s special military operation broke out last February.

The fund is separate from the EU’s budget, which is not allowed to finance military operations.