NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently addressed the media during a foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium, amid reports that NATO is seeking to take over leadership in transatlantic efforts to aid Ukraine and establish a “Trump-proof” $100 billion funding mechanism. Stoltenberg acknowledged that discussions are underway on both fronts.
On Tuesday, multiple outlets reported that NATO was interested in taking responsibility for supplying weapons to Ukraine from the current US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Stoltenberg confirmed in a news conference that an upcoming meeting would see ministers discussing how NATO could assume more responsibility for coordinating military equipment and training for Ukraine, anchoring this within a robust NATO framework.
“I will not go into the details of the proposal,” Stoltenberg said. “What I can say is that I welcome that Allies agree that we need to sustain our support to Ukraine, we need to make it more robust, and therefore we are now discussing ways to institutionalize more of the support within a NATO framework to make it more predictable and more robust.”
Regarding the reported $100 billion aid package, Stoltenberg mentioned that the alliance planned to discuss “a multi-year financial commitment to sustain our support.” However, it remains unclear how the $100 billion package will be funded.
“What is obvious is that we need new and more money for Ukraine, and we need it over many years,” Stoltenberg added. “The whole idea now discussing framework commitments and institutionalized frameworks for the support is to ensure more predictability and more confidence that the moment will come every month, every year, for the long haul.”
Stoltenberg emphasized the necessity of these changes to deliver more “predictable, robust” long-term support for Ukraine, stressing that they were essential to “send a message to Moscow that they cannot wait” the alliance out.
“We will hopefully move forward towards consensus, and then we will have an agreement in place by the [NATO] summit scheduled to take place this July in Washington DC,” noted the alliance leader.
Should NATO gain more influence over the Contact Group, it would have a more direct say over how weapons and ammunition supplies to Ukraine are coordinated, according to diplomats cited by Reuters. The diplomats said NATO’s Contact Group coordination role would act as a guard against any potential cut in US support by Trump, should he win a second term. The former US president has repeatedly praised Russia, prompting fears that his victory would quickly mean an end to US support to Kyiv.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin currently chairs the Contact Group, which typically meets at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on a monthly basis to discuss and approve new weapons packages and coordinate multinational coalition procurements for Ukraine.
Ukraine and European officials remain openly concerned and frustrated with a six-month delay by Washington to approve much-needed military aid under the $105 billion supplemental funding bill, held up by House Republicans in a dispute over border control and immigration reform. Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson said on Sunday that the aid package could move forward once lawmakers return from a recess.
The US funding problems arrive at a time when Kyiv faces an ammunition crisis, continues to lose ground to Russia, and faces the prospect of having to fight against an additional 150,000 new Moscow conscripts. Earlier this week, Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a former Ukraine defense minister and chair of the Centre for Defence Strategies, a Ukrainian security think tank, said that US leadership had made a “historical strategic mistake” in not passing the supplemental.
President Biden, in his State of the Union Address, emphasized the importance of standing with Ukraine. He drew parallels to Franklin Roosevelt’s address in 1941, highlighting the unprecedented moment in history where freedom and democracy are under assault both at home and overseas. Biden stressed that Ukraine could stop Putin if provided with the necessary weapons to defend itself, without the need for American soldiers on the ground.
Biden criticized those blocking assistance to Ukraine, pointing out the stark contrast between past Republican leaders like Ronald Reagan and the current stance of some Republicans, including his predecessor, who has shown support for Putin. He reiterated America’s commitment to NATO and the importance of standing up to Putin to protect Ukraine, Europe, and the free world.
Biden also addressed domestic issues, including the aftermath of the January 6th insurrection, the importance of defending democracy, and the need for bipartisan support to pass national security legislation. He highlighted the progress made in strengthening NATO, welcoming Finland and Sweden to the alliance, and called on Congress to continue supporting Ukraine.
The President’s address underscored the critical nature of the current geopolitical landscape and the need for sustained, predictable support for Ukraine. As NATO discussions continue, the alliance aims to ensure that its support for Ukraine remains robust and resilient, regardless of potential political changes in the US.
Source: Reuters, NATO
