Long-term targeted aid to Ukraine more important than “budget shares” – Healey, Pistorius

The heads of the defense agencies made the statement, answering a question from an Ukrinform staff correspondent about the possibility of allocating a fixed share of the total defense spending of NATO Allies to assistance for Ukraine.

“The focus of our discussions within the UDCG is what does Ukraine most need, what are our plans together for 2025, and how quickly we, as the nations standing with Ukraine, can supply to Ukraine what is needed. This is more important than a general discussion about the levels of spending. But on the levels of spending, in the UK, part of stepping up and speeding up our support for Ukraine means that in this year, we will be spending on military aid to Ukraine 4.5 billion pounds. That’s a higher level of support than ever before. We will continue our support next year and the year beyond, and the year beyond, for as long as it takes,” Healey said.

In turn, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius noted that the issue of allocating certain shares of member states’ defense spending to support Ukraine was not being considered at this stage.

“Up till not that was not a topic for discussion, I don’t know whether it is foreseeable for the summit or for tomorrow. But of course, we are doing everything we are able to do, and we have proven this again today, to support Ukraine. We will do this for as long as it takes,” said the head of the German defense ministry.

As reported earlier, a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which unites the efforts of about 50 countries providing military assistance to Ukraine, was held in Brussels on Wednesday. On June 5, a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council at the level of defense ministers will be held at the Alliance Headquarters.

Photo: PAP/EPA