Italy and Spain believe it is too early to make a definitive decision on the proposal, the agency has reported
The EU’s third and fourth largest economies – Italy and Spain – are skeptical about the bloc’s idea of doubling military aid to Ukraine, Reuters has reported.
Proposed by renowned Russia hawk and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the plan would increase the bloc’s cashflow to Kiev from €20 billion ($20,9 billion) last year to €40 billion ($43,7 billion) in 2025.
Following a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, Kallas acknowledged that her proposal had “broad,” but not unilateral, support among the 27 member states. She has been pushing for more EU aid to Kiev amid concerns in Brussels that US President Donald Trump could stop the flow of American arms to the government of Vladimir Zelensky.
Earlier this year, Kallas, along with NATO chief Mark Rutte urged EU members against prioritizing social welfare over military spending, arguing that billions already invested in healthcare, education and other areas would be “at risk” if the bloc is unable to defend itself from a supposed “Russian threat.”
The idea of ramping up EU military aid to Ukraine has “strong backing” from northern and eastern European countries, the agency said in an article on Monday, citing diplomatic sources. However, some southern European capitals, further away from the Russian border, have been “more reticent,” it noted.
Speaking before the meeting in Brussels, the foreign ministers from Italy and Spain made it clear that it was too early to take a definitive stance on Kallas’ proposal, Reuters said.
Italian FM Antonio Tajani said that the decision on doubling aid to Kiev should be made taking into account the progress in the talks between Moscow and Washington. He also noted that Rome needed money to increase its own defense spending.
Spain’s top diplomat Jose Manuel Albares reminded that Madrid did not wait for Kallas to make her proposal and had already committed to providing 1 billion euros (around $1.1 billion) in military aid to Ukraine this year.
Even France, which has been one of the strongest backers of Ukraine during the conflict with Russia, has questions about Kallas’ plan, according to the diplomats.
During the ministers’ discussions, Hungary and Slovakia, who have long been critical of EU military assistance to Kiev, said that they will not participate in the initiative, Reuters said.
EU officials have assured Reuters that Budapest and Bratislava would not be able to block Kallas’ proposal as increased contributions to Ukraine would be voluntary.
READ MORE:
Italy rejects Franco-British plan to deploy troops to Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier this month that the Trump administration is “guided by common sense. They say outright that they want to end all wars, they want peace. And who demands a continuation of the banquet in the form of a war? It is [Western] Europe.”
Read the full article here