The Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, has proposed that member countries allocate 0.25% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to support Ukraine annually. This suggestion has met with resistance from some member states.
According to two diplomats, Rutte presented this proposal during a closed meeting of NATO ambassadors at the end of last month. A report by Politico estimates that, based on NATO’s collective GDP, this would translate to an annual contribution of approximately 143 billion dollars to Ukraine.
Sources indicated that Rutte’s proposal is partly a response to dissatisfaction among certain member countries, which feel they are contributing more to Ukraine’s support than other allies.
However, skepticism has emerged from several nations, including France and the United Kingdom. It has been noted that unanimous approval from all NATO members would be required to implement such an initiative.
Additionally, on April 23, the European Council approved a loan of 90 billion euros for Ukraine, which is expected to be repaid through reparations from Russia. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized that these funds would not be allocated for the restoration of energy infrastructure damaged by hostile attacks.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has suggested that member states contribute 0.25% of their GDP to Ukraine annually, a proposal that faces skepticism from some countries. The initiative aims to address concerns about unequal contributions among allies, but requires unanimous support for approval.