Stoltenberg proposes military aid for Ukraine worth 100 billion euros

2024-04-03 09:51:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has proposed a five-year military aid package for Ukraine worth 100 billion euros, which would allow the Western alliance a more direct role in supporting Kiev, five diplomats said on Tuesday.

Under the plan, NATO would take over some of the coordination duties of the ad-hoc coalition, known as the Ramstein group, a move that would partially shield any cuts in US support if Donald Trump returns to the White House, diplomats said.

The proposal is expected to be discussed at a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Wednesday and Thursday, with the aim of finalizing a package ahead of the NATO summit in Washington in July.

So far, NATO as an organization has not helped Ukraine with weapons for fear that a direct role could cause an escalation of tensions with Russia. Most of the member countries of the alliance provide Ukraine with military aid on a bilateral basis.

But diplomats said there is growing support within the alliance for the idea of ??NATO helping Ukraine militarily in the long term, and that the alliance could take on much of that role.

Under the plan, NATO would create a mission for Ukraine, although it was still unclear whether the mission would operate domestically, diplomats said. Some states were also careful in naming the operation as a mission.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said the plan is in part "to hedge against the winds of political change" in each NATO member state.

NATO declined to comment in detail on Mr. Stoltenberg's proposals, but an alliance official said foreign ministers would "discuss how best to organize NATO's support for Ukraine, to make it more robust, predictable and sustainable".

"No final decision will be taken at the April ministerial meetings and discussions will continue as we approach the high-level meeting in Washington in July ," said the official, who asked to remain anonymous.

Diplomats said discussions on the proposal were at an early stage and it was unclear whether the 100 billion euro figure would be approved or how it would be financed. All NATO decisions require consensus from the 32 member countries of the alliance./ VOA