NATO director abandons EUR100 billion Ukraine fund proposal
Date
6/11/2024 4:03:33 AM
(MENAFN) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has abandoned a proposed five-year plan to allocate EUR100 billion (USD108 billion) in military assistance to Ukraine following resistance from member states within the alliance, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the situation.
Initial reports in April indicated that Stoltenberg had drafted a comprehensive long-term military support plan for Ukraine, partly as a precaution against potential reductions in United States aid, particularly if former President Donald trump were to return to office. Trump had previously advocated for limiting aid to Ukraine to loans and urged European NATO allies to match United States assistance levels to Kiev.
However, the ambitious EUR100 billion plan faced scrutiny from various NATO members, who sought clarification from Stoltenberg regarding the source and allocation of such substantial funds. Politico reported last month that several officials within the alliance found the plan "confusing," indicating a need for revisions to the proposed budget.
Furthermore, recent discussions among NATO diplomats revealed skepticism from Ukrainian authorities regarding the effectiveness of the proposed aid package. They argued that the proposed funds would largely duplicate existing bilateral and European Union-managed commitments, rather than providing additional financial support.
In response to these challenges, Stoltenberg is expected to present an updated proposal focusing on providing Ukraine with both lethal and non-lethal aid, with an annual budget of approximately €40 billion. This revised plan is anticipated to be deliberated upon by NATO defense ministers in the upcoming week.
The decision to scale back the aid package highlights the complexities and divergent priorities among NATO member states, underscoring the challenges of coordinating collective assistance efforts in the face of geopolitical tensions and evolving strategic dynamics.
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