NATO foreign ministers are on Wednesday meeting in Brussels amid increased worry about the ongoing war in Ukraine. They're expected to discuss a proposal to create a €100 billion fund for supporting Ukraine’s military.
The proposal, by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, would give the alliance a more direct role in coordinating the supply of arms, ammunition and equipment to Ukraine as it fights Russia's invasion.
NATO’s official stance on the Ukraine war is unequivocal: it "condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of aggression".
An updated statement by the alliance confirmed it would continue to provide Ukraine with "unprecedented levels of support, helping to uphold its fundamental right to self-defence.”
But Kyiv ghas said this is not enough. The country is facing critical shortages of arms and troops as it holds off an onslaught of Russian attacks.
US aid blocked
The US, NATO's leading member, is a key military backer for Ukraine – but a €55.8 billion aid package has been held up in Congress.
Ahead of the Brussels talks, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed calls for Congress to release the aid.
“We are at a critical moment where it is absolutely essential to get Ukrainians what they continue to need to defend themselves, particularly when it comes to munitions and air defences,” Blinken said during a visit to an arms factory in Paris.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, speaking to Congress earlier this week, said Ukrainian forces would have to cede further territory to Russia if US military aid does not arrive soon.
The war in Ukraine has radically altered the alliance.
As a direct result of Russia’s 2022 invasion, Finland and Sweden – formerly staunchly neutral countries – joined the alliance.
NATO seems more unified in the face of a common adversary it was than five years ago when French President Emmanuel Macron warned in an interview with The Economist that it was “becoming brain-dead”.
The US, then governed by Donald Trump, showed signs of "turning its back on us", Macron told the weekly.
Trump threat
But in spite of the current unity and willingness to provide help, there's the real possibility of another Trump administration taking over NATO next year and causing an extra headache for Ukraine.
Even today with the alliance stronger than ever it's doubtful that all members will be willing to continue supplying Ukraine with arms and ammunition.
According to the French Ministry of Defence, the total value of French military equipment delivered to Ukraine until 31 December 2023 amounted to €2.6 billion.
Paris contributed a further €1.2 billion to the European Peace Facility (EPF), bringing the overall total to €3.8 billion.
This includes 445 night vision goggles, 6 TRF1 Howitzers, 30 Caesar guns and an unspecified number of ground-to-air defence Scalp, Mistral, Aster and Crotale missiles as well as 1.74 million 12.7mm cartridges, 1.1 million small arms ammunition and other equipment.
France's contribution is dwarfed by US aid given to Kyiv, statistics published by the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations show. A staggering €69.1 billion in funds and equipment has been provided by the US: that's 18 times the amount Paris has supplied.
Meawhile figures from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy show that the EU and its institutions topped the list of combined military, humanitarian and financial government support to Ukraine. This is followed by the US, Germany, the UK and Denmark.
The NATO meeting, spread over two days, is partly meant as preparation for a summit between NATO heads of state in Washington in July.
On 4 April, NATO will celebrate its 75th anniversary.
