NATO lacks consensus on annual financial aid to Ukraine, says Stoltenberg

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (Getty Images)

NATO members have not yet reached a consensus on the commitment to annual financial assistance to Ukraine, according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Recently, he called on the allies to annually allocate about 40 billion euros a year for military assistance to Ukraine.

So far, there is no consensus on this issue, the Secretary-General said. But many NATO members support the idea.

He notes that not only short-term commitments are needed, but also long-term ones.

"We need not only to have short-term pledges. They are welcome, of course, but if we have more long-term predictable pledges. it will give Ukrainians better planning, assumptions... and most importantly send a signal to Moscow,” he said.

Today NATO met to agree on the coordination of military assistance to Ukraine. Military assistance to Ukraine is currently coordinated by the United States. But because of this year's presidential election, this function is to be transferred to NATO control.

Such a step would help avoid threats if Donald Trump, who refuses to provide and support aid to Ukraine, becomes the new US president.