Stoltenberg prepares to expand NATO support for Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg proposes creating a special NATO mission for Ukraine (NATO Mission Ukraine) and agreeing on the alliance’s military assistance to Kyiv for a five-year period in the amount of 100 billion euros. The news agencies dpa and AFP wrote regarding this on the night of Wednesday, April 3, citing sources in diplomatic circles.

It is indicated that such plans will be discussed at a meeting of the foreign ministers of NATO member countries, which will be held on April 3-4 in Brussels on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the creation of the alliance. A final decision on expanding support for the Russian-attacked country, however, is not expected until the anniversary NATO summit in July in Washington.

Objectives of a possible NATO mission to Ukraine

As dpa points out, if a NATO mission in Ukraine is created, its main task will be to coordinate the supply of weapons and training of the Ukrainian military. At the moment, the United States is carrying out the corresponding work, organizing regular meetings for this purpose at the German Ramstein airbase or in Brussels. Jens Stoltenberg’s idea is to bring NATO’s support for Ukraine to a more general level, making it independent of the political situation in individual member countries, especially given the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House, dpa explains. Politico also writes regarding this.

As for the prospect of creating a fund of 100 billion euros for military support of Ukraine by NATO countries, many questions remain. In particular, there is no certainty as to whether amounts already allocated for this purpose by individual countries will be taken into account.

German concerns regarding NATO’s growing role in Ukraine

The NATO spokesman refused to comment on Stoltenberg’s proposals, confirming only at the request of journalists that at the meeting of the foreign ministers of NATO member countries on April 3 and 4, they will discuss how to make the North Atlantic Alliance’s support for Ukraine stronger, more predictable and long-term.

The German government, especially the Federal Chancellor’s Office, has so far been very reserved regarding proposals to strengthen NATO’s role in Ukraine. This position is explained by fears of the prospect of expanding the war into NATO territory and further escalation of the conflict with Russia.