European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the European Union (EU) is preparing a €500 million package just for arms purchases for Ukraine, after first doing so in February.

According to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the proposal was put forward by the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.

"Once quickly approved [by member states], this proposal will bring to 1.5 billion euros the European Union aid provided to Ukraine for military hardware," the official, who heads the body that groups the leaders of the 27 EU countries, wrote on the social network Twitter.

So far, the 27 had approved a sum of 1 billion euros to supply arms to Kiev. The proposal was agreed at ambassadorial level within the Political and Security Committee, a diplomatic source indicated.