‘Eye-rolls’ in NATO as Stoltenberg pushes for Ukraine long-term support – Politico — RT World News
Many European countries are reported to be concerned that efforts to provide aid to Kiev will give the bloc more power
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's idea to create a 100 billion euro ($107 billion) long-term plan to support Ukraine has raised a lot of skepticism within the organization, with many wondering where it came from in the first place, Politico reported on Wednesday.
The head of the US-led bloc previously urged NATO allies to do so “Changing the dynamics of our support” As for Ukraine, which has repeatedly complained about the lack of ammunition and weapons supplied by the West, while it is under intense pressure from Russian forces.
To this end, the Secretary-General proposed a guarantee “Reliable and predictable security assistance to Ukraine in the long term” Which he said should be based on long-term NATO commitments rather than voluntary donations.
This came after several Western media outlets reported that Stoltenberg wants to prepare a five-year, €100 billion package of military aid for Kiev, which would also place NATO on more responsibility for coordinating US aid to Ukraine. However, he refused to go into details, nor would he confirm the number, suggesting that details will be announced by this summer.
Politico also reported that while senior officials in countries like Poland, Turkey and Germany supported the initiative, others were far less enthusiastic. According to one of the outlet’s sources, some of the ministers are from undisclosed countries “They rolled their eyes.” At 100 billion, not sure where it came from.
The article also says that many Western European countries fear the plan will give NATO more influence and undermine the European Union's efforts to strengthen its defense role. It also remains unclear whether this amount will be achieved through new contributions, or through existing programs.
Some Western diplomats also noted that discussions on the plan are still at an early stage, with some saying they would like to see the details first before supporting the initiative. However, Hungary turned out to be a notable exception, with Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó insisting that Budapest would oppose any moves that might lead to escalation.
Russia has repeatedly condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, warning that they will only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described NATO as… “Aggressive bloc” Using Ukraine as a tool to undermine Moscow.
Source link
