European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies, Germany & Netherlands – ECCI
NATO allies seek clarity on Stoltenberg’s €100B plan for Ukraine
politico – Alliance boss fears funding for Kyiv could run dry in the absence of a binding commitment. NATO allies are demanding that outgoing chief Jens Stoltenberg offer greater clarity this week on his plan to pledge a massive €100 billion in support for Ukraine.The proposal, part of the NATO secretary general’s plan to “Trump-proof” financial support for Kyiv in case the Ukraine-skeptic former U.S. president is re-elected in November, remains a thorny issue among alliance members.
Behind the scenes, even some of Ukraine’s closer Eastern European allies have become more reserved about the plan in recent weeks, wondering where and how such a huge sum of money would be sourced — with only weeks left until NATO leaders meet in Washington in July.“The plan is a bit confusing,” an Eastern European official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
They added that countries would expect Stoltenberg to provide more clarity during a Prague meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Thursday and Friday.It remains to be seen if European NATO heavyweights Germany and France will back the plan.Paris has preferred to keep defense spending within the EU rather than NATO, while Chancellor Olaf Scholz is unwilling to spend more than has already been set aside under the country’s Zeitenwende (“turning point”) pledges, stemming from a speech he delivered following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Another official, also from a country friendly toward Ukraine, said he “won’t be surprised” if the €100 billion figure is ultimately revised, but predicted the allies would need to find ways to show concrete support for Kyiv.Two other officials with knowledge of the discussion confirmed talks were ongoing, especially concerning the amount of money and ways of allocating it.A fifth official cautioned that while the ministers and Stoltenberg would go through the details at the Prague meeting, no formal decisions would be taken given the meeting’s “informal” nature.
The NATO chief fears funding for Ukraine could dry up in the absence of a binding commitment.The initial plan from the secretary general’s office was for NATO allies to commit to €100 billion over the course of five years, demonstrating to the U.S. that Europe was paying its share in backing Kyiv.
European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies, Germany & Netherlands – ECCI
