NATO Chief Pushes Allies To Commit $44 Billion In Defense Aid To Ukraine Annually

Currently NATO defense and foreign ministers are gathered in Prague for two days of meetings as part of preparations for the major Washington Summit in July. At the meeting chaired by the alliance's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg he urged that NATO countries must maintain support to Ukraine "for as long as necessary".

Stoltenberg is asking 32 NATO members to commit a whopping $44 billion in military aid to Ukraine every year. President Zelensky has been urging more immediate aid to come at a faster rate, meanwhile.

Stoltenberg told the meeting in Prague, "Russia must understand that it cannot wait us out." He reasoned further that "Allies have provided approximately 40 billion euros worth of military aid to Ukraine each year."

He said that for Ukraine to have battlefield success, NATO countries must maintain "at least" current levels of support to Ukraine for as long as the fight continues.

Even though it has become clear that Ukraine front lines are crumbling, especially in places like Kharkiv oblast near the Russian border, this new initiative by Stoltenberg appears geared toward locking the alliance into further permanent commitments, lest any should waiver down the road.

According to analysis by the Austin-based Libertarian Institute:

Under the $100 billion proposal, counties would contribute aid equal to their financial commitment to the alliance. The US pays for about a quarter of NATO’s annual budget. If Stoltenberg seeks to lock in member states at their current commitment, the US will contribute over half of all aid, about $25 billion annually. 

NATO has been seeking a multi-year pledge from its members to supply arms to Ukraine. The commitment is meant to lock in assistance for Kiev even if a nation would later decide to alter course. The initial proposal from Stoltenberg was for NATO to commit $108 billion over five years. 

Meanwhile a US official speaking to The New York Times has said the conflict has entered "a new reality" and "perhaps a new era" after Thursday's White House decision to allow Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory using US-supplied weapons systems.

"The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them," an administration statement confirmed. "Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long-range strikes inside of Russia has not changed," the statement added.