Five NATO Countries, Including Britain and France, Opposed Mandatory Military Aid to Ukraine Equal to 0.25% of GDP

Britain, France, Italy, Spain, and Canada have opposed a proposal requiring NATO members to allocate at least 0.25% of GDP annually in military aid for Ukraine, The Telegraph reports.

According to the newspaper, the initiative put forward by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was discussed ahead of the alliance summit in Ankara but failed to secure the unanimous backing required for decisions of this kind.

As the report notes, London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, and Ottawa opposed the proposal.

At the same time, at least seven alliance members supported the initiative. These are countries that already provide Ukraine with assistance exceeding 0.25% of their GDP. The Telegraph identifies Poland, the Netherlands, and the Baltic and Nordic states among them.

The newspaper notes that Britain’s refusal to support the initiative dealt a blow to its reputation as one of Ukraine’s most consistent allies within NATO.

Five NATO Countries, Including Britain and France, Opposed Mandatory Military Aid to Ukraine Equal to 0.25% of GDP

Rutte’s Initiative Was Backed Only by Countries Already Giving Kyiv More—Poland, the Netherlands and the Baltic States