Five unnamed diplomatic sources told Reuters that NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will propose to the NATO alliance that it approves a EUR500billion (Euro) package of military aid for Ukraine as support for that nation’s war against invading Russia.
Diplomats say that under the plan, NATO will take over coordination duties from the Ramstein group, a U.S.-led ad hoc coalition. This is to protect the U.S. against any possible cutback in support in the event Donald Trump wins the White House.
The proposal will be discussed during a two-day NATO meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, to finalize the package before a NATO Summit in Washington in July.
NATO has so far restricted its involvement in Ukraine to non-lethal assistance, out of fear that a direct role would lead to an escalation in tensions with Russia. The majority of NATO members supply weapons to Ukraine bilaterally.
It would seem that NATO’s approach to the Russia-Ukrainian conflict has changed dramatically (and we should not forget that the United States is a member of NATO).
Tsar Vladimir I is likely to personally accept any military aid directly from NATO.
Diplomats say that there is a growing consensus within NATO that it’s time to place military aid for Ukraine on a sustainable and long-term basis. The Western alliance would be best suited to play a large part in this.
Others said that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats that he will consider various NATO allies’ steps as escalatory has not resulted in retaliatory actions against them.
This statement begs the question, “How long?” This NATO proposal also serves as a safeguard against an incoming Trump administration, which may not be so enthusiastic about continuing to send billions of dollars in aid to Kyiv.
Diplomats warned that the discussion on the proposal was at a very early stage. It was not clear whether or not the 100 billion euros total would be acceptable, nor how it would be funded. All NATO decisions must be approved by the 32 member states.
It is a good way to protect against Trump. Another diplomat said that it was impossible to make something Trump-proof.
This means that NATO believes that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will continue not only until January 2025 but also until January 2029, when Donald Trump’s second term ends. If this is NATO’s assumption, it’s horrifying and callous that the enormous drain of blood, money, and resources would continue for another five years.
The United Kingdom comes in third place with about 11.2 percent. Even though this is an official NATO resolution and if it occurs, as with all NATO expenses, the United States taxpayers will still be on the hook for the majority of the total.
This is a mere proposal. We will continue to monitor this issue, and we’ll keep you updated as the situation warrants.
