The European Union is urging its member states to pledge significant military support for Ukraine, proposing a commitment of up to 40 billion euros (approximately $43.7 billion) in weapons for the year. This initiative comes amid growing concerns about the reliability of U.S. support for Ukraine, particularly following past disruptions in military aid.
The proposal, outlined by EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, emphasizes the need for EU nations to “accelerate and focus” on addressing Ukraine’s urgent requirements as it continues to face challenges from Russian military forces. The document, which was reviewed by various news outlets, encourages member states to contribute military assistance to Ukraine with a provisional value of at least 20 billion euros ($21.8 billion) in 2025. This figure may double to 40 billion euros, depending on the evolving needs of Ukraine.
Part of the military assistance plan includes the delivery of two million artillery shells valued at five billion euros ($5.5 billion) in 2025. Additionally, nearly two billion euros ($2.2 billion) of the total would be sourced from EU funds derived from profits of Russian assets that have been frozen and previously earmarked for Ukrainian support.
However, the proposal appears to face resistance from some of the larger EU economies, including France, Italy, and Spain. These nations have reportedly been criticized for not contributing sufficiently to Ukraine’s military aid. In light of potential opposition, the plan could be modified to include only the countries willing to participate, thereby attempting to circumvent any blocks from Hungary, which has been seen as a close ally of Russia within the EU.
Discussions are also ongoing about extending the proposal to nations outside the EU, with the United Kingdom and Norway being possible candidates for inclusion.
A meeting of EU foreign ministers scheduled for Monday in Brussels is set to address the proposal ahead of a leaders’ summit later in the week. Earlier this month, EU leaders had already signaled an initial approval to further develop the plan.
Amid these developments, Europe is increasingly concerned about the implications of the political landscape in the U.S., particularly regarding former President Donald Trump’s past decisions that temporarily halted military aid to Ukraine. There are fears that a change in U.S. administration could lead to pressure on Kyiv to accept unfavorable peace terms in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
In recent developments on the battlefield, Ukrainian forces are reported to be facing fatigue and are reportedly being pushed back along the front lines. Russia is nearing the possibility of regaining control of the Kursk region, which Ukraine had captured in the previous year. The situation remains fluid, with hopes pinned on new international support initiatives to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities in the continued struggle against Russian aggression.
