Kyiv requests over $100 billion from West - media

Ukraine has officially informed its Western partners that it will require at least $120 billion to sustain its military operations through 2025.

A well-informed NATO military source revealed that this amount significantly exceeds the €40 billion agreed upon at the recent NATO summit in Washington, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The source suggested that the issue may be raised during the upcoming Ukraine-NATO Council meeting, scheduled for December 3 in Brussels, with the participation of Ukraine's foreign minister.

However, it remains unclear whether the $120 billion request takes into account the $50 billion pledged by the Group of Seven (G7) nations, which is to be allocated from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets.

NATO, as an alliance, has been clear in its political support for Ukraine and fully supports the provision of bilateral military assistance by individual allies. NATO has been helping to coordinate requests for assistance from the Ukrainian Government and has been supporting the delivery of humanitarian and non-lethal aid through its pre-existing Comprehensive Assistance Package.

In July 2024, NATO agreed to take on a greater role in the coordination of military assistance and training among NATO allies, and will work in conjunction with the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Allies also agreed to a “minimum baseline funding of €40 billion [for Ukraine military assistance] within the next year”.

Ukraine is not a NATO member, however, and therefore isn’t party to NATO’s mutual defence clause under Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty. As a result, NATO troops will not be deployed on the ground in Ukraine. Allies have also ruled out imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine because it would bring Russia into direct conflict with NATO forces.

The European Union (EU) is also providing non-lethal and lethal arms and training through its European Peace Facility (EPF). This is the first time the bloc has, in its history, approved the supply of lethal weapons to a third country.

The G7 countries and the EU Member States have recently agreed proposals that will allow profits from sanctioned Russian assets, held in their respective jurisdictions, to be used to help finance military assistance to Ukraine.

Under the EU agreement, the first tranche of funding for weapons purchases, channelled through the European Peace Facility, was mobilised in July 2024.

By Vafa Guliyeva