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The EU has for the first time funded member states’ joint procurement of weapons, including missiles and ammunition, which will in part be sent to Ukraine. It had previously financed arms purchases for Ukraine ad hoc and from outside its budget.

The European Commission vice-president Margrethe Vestager said the EU was investing €300 million to help groups of up to nine member countries buy air defence systems, armoured vehicles and artillery ammunition. “Importantly, the selected projects will also increase our support to Ukraine with additional defence equipment.” The EU has been working to boost its defence industry to arm Ukraine and build up its own forces. It fell short of a promise to supply Kyiv with a million artillery shells by the end of March 2024, but the EU diplomacy chief, Josep Borrell, has vowed the goal will be reached before the end of the year.

The Ukrainian foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, on Thursday said he hoped Marco Rubio, Donald Trump’s nominee for US secretary of state, would pursue a policy of “peace through strength”. Rubio in the past advocated an assertive US foreign policy with respect to America’s geopolitical foes, but has recently aligned more closely with Trump’s “America First” approach. In April, Rubio was one of 15 Republican senators to vote against a big military aid package to Ukraine and other US partners. In recent interviews, he has said that Ukraine should seek a negotiated settlement rather than focus on regaining its territory.