Rutte: Allies already allocate EUR 20 bln in military aid to Ukraine, to fulfill their commitment of EUR 40 bln per year

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says the Allies are fulfilling their commitment to provide Ukraine with EUR 40 billion in military aid per year, and EUR 20.9 billion in aid has already been provided in the first half of 2024.

The NATO Secretary General announced this at a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday. "On the financial pledge, I am delighted to report that we are firmly on track to delivering the [EUR] 40 billion pledged for the coming year, as agreed in Washington. I can announce today that NATO Allies committed EUR 20.9 billion in military assistance to Ukraine during the first half of 2024. And Allies are on track to meet their commitments for the rest of the year. So the message is clear: NATO is delivering for Ukraine, and we will continue to do so," Rutte said.

He recalled that just two weeks ago he made his first official trip as Secretary General to Kyiv. "There, I reaffirmed that NATO stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine, now and into the future. We are working – and with urgency – to deliver: a new NATO command to coordinate security assistance and training for Ukraine; more support to build Ukraine's future forces; a financial pledge of at least EUR 40 billion of military aid within a year; and initiatives to support Ukraine on its irreversible path to NATO membership," the Alliance Secretary General said.

He also said that earlier this week he visited the new command being established in Wiesbaden, where he met with staff who will coordinate international security assistance for Ukraine. "Work has started, and we expect the command to become fully operational in the coming months. This will enable Allies to provide more coordinated and consistent support for Ukraine, for the long term," Rutte said.