Key NATO Countries Block Rutte’s Plan to Increase Aid to Ukraine

The United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and Canada blocked a NATO initiative that would have required Alliance countries to allocate at least 0.25% of their GDP to military aid for Ukraine.

The idea was promoted by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, according to The Telegraph.

At the same time, at least seven NATO member states—which already spend more than 0.25% of their GDP on military support for Ukraine—backed this initiative.

Among them are the Netherlands, Poland, as well as countries in Northern Europe and the Baltic region.

Ahead of the NATO meeting in Sweden, the country’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called on allies to step up aid to Kyiv.

“I would very much like to see more countries that speak so highly of Ukraine back up their words with actions,” Kristersson said.

The United Kingdom’s military contribution is the third largest among NATO countries, yet it amounts to about 0.1% of the country’s GDP.

Rutte stated that aid to Ukraine is “distributed unevenly within NATO” and that many allies “are not spending enough when it comes to supporting Ukraine.”

The NATO chief has long emphasized that Europe must take on more responsibility for supporting Ukraine rather than relying on U.S. aid.

“I would very much like to see more countries that speak so highly of Ukraine also back up their words with real money,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters.

The partners’ main dissatisfaction is directed at France, Italy, Spain, and Canada, whose contributions lag significantly behind the capabilities of their economies.

According to the plan, NATO countries are to allocate $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2026.