(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has expressed frustration over the delayed delivery of financial support promised by NATO members for military aid. At a recent summit in The Hague, many NATO countries pledged to increase defense spending to 5% of their GDP. Ukraine hopes to benefit from this boost, although Western hesitation over long-term funding is decreasing.

Zelensky told Ukrainian ambassadors that while the EU has made €150 billion available through the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, which offers low-interest loans for defense investments, only ten countries have committed to using these funds. He noted that Ukraine has yet to receive any actual transfers.

The SAFE initiative is part of a broader EU plan to borrow €800 billion for military preparedness but is not intended as direct aid to Ukraine. Some NATO members, including the US, have proposed weapon sales to Ukraine, with other nations expected to cover costs. However, key EU countries like France and Italy have reportedly declined due to budgetary or political concerns.

The situation has highlighted divisions within the EU, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticizing the European Commission’s proposed seven-year budget, arguing it prioritizes Ukraine’s needs at the expense of the EU’s future, warning that the plan could jeopardize the union’s stability.

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