Europe EU discusses military aid for Ukraine
The foreign ministers of the EU member states are meeting in Brussels today to discuss further military support for Ukraine.
17.03.2025, 06:03
SDA
According to the German Press Agency, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas has proposed providing the country attacked by Russia with aid worth between 20 and 40 billion euros this year. Member states are to make contributions in line with their economic strength.
However, in order to prevent individual governments from using their veto, participation would be voluntary, according to a text from the Foreign Service obtained by dpa. Hungary in particular rejects EU military aid as pointless and a prolongation of the war. The right-wing conservative government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently forced the lifting of EU sanctions against several Russians.
Summit meeting on Thursday
At today's meeting of foreign ministers, there is to be an exchange of views on Kallas' new initiative at ministerial level for the first time. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha will also take part in the talks in Brussels. "Our priorities are Europe's unity, strength and determination," he wrote on Platform X. It is no time for "narrow-minded interests, petty blackmail or Trojan horses", he said with regard to possible obstructionists within the EU, without naming them.
A fundamental political decision is not expected at the meeting. According to diplomats, there will probably still have to be talks at the level of the heads of state and government. They will meet on Thursday for their spring summit in Brussels.
For Germany, the promise of support desired by Kallas would presumably not be a problem, as aid amounting to four billion euros has already been approved for this year and another three billion euros is to be added soon. However, other large countries such as France, Italy and Spain would have to significantly increase their support for Ukraine if they wanted to be involved in line with their economic strength.
Selenskyj: Must step up diplomacy
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi accused the Russian leadership of deliberate delaying tactics in the talks on a possible ceasefire. Following the negotiations between the Ukrainian delegation and representatives of the USA in Saudi Arabia, Russia had "almost stolen another week, a week of war that only Russia needs", said Zelensky in his evening video message. Kiev will now do everything it can to step up diplomacy. "But every day now is about defending our independence, our state and our people," said Zelensky.
Russia is not yet ready for an immediate ceasefire at the suggestion of the USA. Ukraine has declared its willingness to do so in principle. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the invasion of the neighboring country a good three years ago, attaches conditions to a ceasefire and has not yet backed down from his demands.
Ukraine is working on a "specific system of security guarantees" in the event of a ceasefire, Selensky reported. "This week we had a meeting of military representatives in France, and we are preparing a meeting in the UK." The first steps towards security guarantees have already been taken, Selensky indicated. However, he did not give any details. Both France and the UK are considering sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. The British government is trying to form a "coalition of the willing", which could provide additional troops.
Former head of the Kremlin threatens war against Nato
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sharply criticized the British-French plans for a possible deployment of peacekeeping troops and threatened war against NATO. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are "playing dumb", Medvedev wrote on the X platform. Although they had been repeatedly told that peacekeeping troops should come from non-Nato countries, the two were sticking to their plans.
If they "want to offer military assistance to the neo-Nazis in Kiev, that means war with NATO", the Vice-Chairman of Russia's National Security Council went on to write. Medvedev advised the two politicians in Paris and London, whom he insulted as "scumbags", to consult with US President Donald Trump.
During his time as President of Russia (2008-2012), Medvedev was considered a liberal politician. Since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, he has repeatedly attracted attention with harsh threats such as the use of nuclear weapons against the West.
