UK and France Oppose NATO Plan to Fix Ukraine Aid at 0.25% of GDP
Britain and France opposed a NATO plan to commit 0.25% of GDP to Ukraine military aid, as Europe debates funding and frozen Russian assets.
Britain and France have emerged as the main opponents of a proposal to make NATO countries commit 0.25% of their GDP to military aid for Ukraine, The Telegraph reported, citing sources.
The idea had been promoted by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. It was intended to give Kyiv a steady flow of weapons from alliance members. But on May 21, Rutte acknowledged that the allies were not ready to agree to setting aside a fixed share of GDP for Ukraine every year.
According to The Telegraph, London and Paris rejected the plan. Spain, Italy and Canada also opposed it.
Seven NATO countries backed the proposal. The newspaper did not name them, but said all seven already provide Ukraine with more than 0.25% of their GDP. According to Kiel University, that level of support is being met by the Netherlands, Poland, as well as countries in Northern Europe and the Baltic states.
Amid the dispute over how to fund aid for Kyiv, European officials are again raising the issue of frozen Russian assets. On May 23, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said the matter should return to the agenda. He said the €90 billion loan to Ukraine was a useful step, but did not fully cover Kyiv’s long-term needs.