NATO Works on $100 Billion Aid Package for Ukraine

NATO is working on a five-year aid package idea for Ukraine worth up to $100 billion, which will be applicable regardless of potential political changes in the West, particularly if Donald Trump wins the U.S. elections, the Financial Times reports, citing sources.

"This will be the crossing of the Rubicon. NATO will play a role in coordinating lethal support for Ukraine... I see signs of consensus emerging," said one diplomat familiar with the situation to the newspaper.

According to several diplomats, the so-called “Mission for Ukraine” proposal was presented by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Under the plan, the alliance is to jointly coordinate the use of $100 billion that will be allocated by 32 member countries.

If the proposal is approved, NATO will oversee the U.S.-led Contact Group on Ukraine and allow the alliance to manage the supply of lethal weapons to Kyiv, the newspaper explains.

It emphasizes that work on Stoltenberg's plan is taking place against the backdrop of the U.S. Congress's inability to agree on a large aid package for Kyiv since last fall.

At the same time, Stoltenberg’s proposal, if implemented, would ensure a much more modest financial involvement from the U.S. than previously expected. Thus, under one of the schemes being considered, the U.S. would need to transfer only $16 billion to NATO’s common fund.

FT notes that this proposal will be discussed later this week by NATO foreign ministers during a meeting in Brussels.