NATO countries will allocate $7 million to support women in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The aid will include more than 10,000 uniforms, footwear, and other equipment, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense on July 10.
The assistance was announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a reception following the NATO roundtable "Women, Peace, Security", held as part of the Alliance summit in Washington.
"Too often, Ukrainian service members lack the necessary equipment to fully meet their unique needs. Today, we are taking a step to address this by announcing that NATO member countries will allocate over $7 million to purchase equipment for women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We applaud every ally who has stepped up to help with this initiative", - Blinken said.
The ministry clarified that negotiations with NATO regarding additional funding for the production of women's military uniforms and body armor for the Ukrainian Armed Forces had been ongoing since 2023. Significant progress was made in March 2024 during a meeting between Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Natalia Kalmykova, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Women, Peace, and Security Irene Fellin, and Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine Karen McTier.
At that time, the parties agreed on experience sharing, consultations, and mutual assistance in implementing gender equality principles within Ukraine's Security and Defense Forces. They also agreed on substantial financial assistance to ensure women service members are provided with the necessary gear and equipment.