NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called for members to commit to long-term weapon deliveries for Ukraine, proposing a 100-billion-euro fund over five years.
The plan is to have NATO coordinate the work of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group – a forum of around 50 countries that has regularly gathered during the war to drum up weapons and ammunition for Ukraine – rather than the US European Command.
NATO chief urges members to provide Ukraine with long-term military help
Stoltenberg says Kyiv had ‘urgent needs’ and delays in providing support can have consequences on the battlefield.
NATO chief urges members to provide Ukraine with long-term military help
Stoltenberg says Kyiv had ‘urgent needs’ and delays in providing support can have consequences on the battlefield.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg presents the alliance's annual report at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium [File: Yves Herman/Reuters]
Published On 3 Apr 20243 Apr 2024
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said alliance members must guarantee long-term weapon deliveries for Ukraine, as ministers discussed a proposal for a 100-billion-euro ($107bn), five-year fund. Speaking before a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on Wednesday, Stoltenberg said Kyiv had “urgent needs,” adding that “any delay in providing support has consequences on the battlefield as we speak.”
“We must ensure reliable and predictable security assistance to Ukraine for the long haul so that we rely less on the voluntary contributions and more on NATO commitments, less on short-term offers and more on multiyear pledges,” he said. Separately on Wednesday, Ukraine lowered the military conscription age from 27 to 25 as it aimed to replenish its depleted ranks after more than two years of war. A shortage of infantry combined with a severe ammunition shortfall has helped hand Russian troops the initiative. “The reason why we do this is the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine. It is serious,” Stoltenberg told reporters. “We see how Russia is pushing, and we see how they try to win this war by just waiting us out.”
Video Duration 28 minutes 26 seconds28:26
US General Christopher Cavoli is NATO’s top military commander, as well as the head of US European Command, so the person in charge would not change.
But Stoltenberg said a formal “institutional framework” is needed as the war drags on and that NATO can provide it.
While the move would not see NATO directly providing weapons to Ukraine – as an organization with 32 members that functions by consensus, the allies only agree to send non-lethal aid like demining equipment, fuel and medical supplies – it would mark a new phase in its involvement in the war.
“More discussion needed
While NATO is desperate to do more for Ukraine, particularly while Russia holds a military advantage, its members are not ready to offer the country their ultimate security guarantee: membership.
Nor do they want to be dragged into a wider war with a nuclear-armed military power like Russia.
Under the new plan, which is expected to be endorsed by US President Joe Biden and his counterparts at their next summit in Washington in July, NATO would coordinate the military side of Ukraine support efforts by assessing Ukraine’s needs, collecting pledges and running meetings. “Moscow needs to understand that they cannot achieve their goals on the battlefield and they cannot wait us out,”Stoltenberg said, without giving details of his proposal.
However, some have urged caution saying there are many questions on where financing would come from and the plan could change dramatically by July.
“It’s dangerous to make promises that we can’t keep,” Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib told reporters when asked how much her country might be willing to contribute to a 100-billion-euro fund. She said the plan requires more discussion.
Arriving at the talks, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described the proposal as “right and important”, saying that aid for Ukraine should be disbursed via “reliable, long-term structures”.
Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins also welcomed the 100-billion-euro fund proposal, suggesting that contributions could be a percentage of each member’s GDP.
Hungary signaled skepticism about at least some elements of Stoltenberg’s proposal. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto“firmly stated Hungary will not back any @NATO proposals that might draw the alliance closer to war or shift it from a defensive to an offensive coalition,” government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said on X.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said ministers would discuss the feasibility of Stoltenberg’s proposal and what each could contribute.
Russia accused NATO of returning to a Cold War mindset. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, “In relations with Russia, the bloc has returned to Cold War setting.” She said NATO has no place in the “multipolar world” that Moscow says it seeks to build to end US dominance, but that it remains the focus of Russian attention.
«Це честь для України – перший візит саме в нашу державу нового Президента Фінляндії, і вперше в такому форматі, разом з паном спікером парламенту Фінляндії. Ми дуже цінуємо це – історичний момент і для України, і для Фінляндії.
Сьогодні ми підписали двосторонню безпекову угоду, Україна – Фінляндія. Це комплексний документ, системний, який закріплює співпрацю на 10 років в усіх принципово важливих сферах. Я вдячний за гарантії продовження військової та фінансової підтримки Фінляндією нашої держави. Вже станом на зараз ми отримали 400 мільйонів євро військової допомоги – це за цей рік. І ця сума суттєво зросте до кінця цього року завдяки ще щонайменше двом пакетам допомоги.
Сьогодні я порушував питання, ми обговорювали: про ППО для України, про захист наших людей від ракет і дронів російських терористів. І я дякую за новий оборонний пакет Фінляндії для України, який ми отримали зараз».
Заяви Президента України Володимира Зеленського і Президента Фінляндії Александра Стубба для представників ЗМІ за підсумками зустрічі в Києві.
Air defense, defense co-production, and Ukraine's path to the EU and NATO: meeting between the President of Ukraine and the President of Finland
3 April 2024 - 15:29
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb in Kyiv. The Head of State noted that it was the first visit of the new President of Finland to Ukraine. He was accompanied by Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Jussi Halla-aho. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Finland and the entire Finnish people for supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia.
"Today, during the talks with Mr. President, we focused on security issues – everything that will save thousands of lives.
Ukraine is grateful to Finland that during such a war your country and your entire society did not hesitate to support our defense, the defense of our state and our people,"he said.
The agreement enshrines cooperation between Ukraine and Finland for 10 years.
This document also demonstrates Finland's support for Ukraine on its path to EU and NATO membership.
"We ourselves should never forget how the path to the EU and NATO was paved. For Ukraine, it means victory. And victory means the defeat of Russia and Putin. And we want to play a role in this," stated Alexander Stubb.
The parties also discussed defense co-production and experience in security solutions for the construction of shelters.
The President of Ukraine emphasized Finland's principled approach to sanctions against Russia for its aggressive war.
"The greater the restrictions to Russia's potential for aggression, the more robust the security of all the states neighboring Russia will be," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
The President of Ukraine noted that work was underway with Finland and many other partners to implement the Ukrainian Peace Formula and prepare for the inaugural Peace Summit in Switzerland.
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