Several NATO countries have blocked a plan to increase aid to Ukraine, according to The Telegraph
The United Kingdom, France, and a number of other NATO allies have blocked an initiative by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to significantly increase military aid to Ukraine.
This was reported by The Telegraph.
According to the publication, Mark Rutte had hoped to bring the proposal to the annual NATO summit in Ankara, and some member states—which already spend more than 0.25% of their GDP on supporting Ukraine—had initially backed the idea.
However, a decision in NATO requires the unanimous support of all member states, and this time a consensus could not be reached.
According to sources, at least five countries opposed the move: the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and Canada.
For London, this decision was particularly sensitive, as Britain has traditionally positioned itself as one of Ukraine’s key allies. At the same time, Keir Starmer’s government has already come under criticism for easing sanctions on Russian-origin petroleum products.
Currently, Britain’s official contribution stands at around £3 billion per year (approximately 0.1% of GDP), which is significantly lower than the proposed level of support.
According to the Kiel Institute, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Nordic and Baltic countries are already spending 0.25% of GDP or more on aid to Ukraine.
At the same time, France, Spain, and Italy—which are among the EU’s largest economies—are regularly criticized for their insufficient level of military support for Ukraine.
Five leading NATO countries have opposed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s initiative to establish a mandatory fixed level of funding for aid to Ukraine.
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