Italy and Spain made it clear on Monday that they are not prepared to support an EU proposal to pledge up to 40 billion euros ($43.67 billion) in military aid for Ukraine this year on a proportional basis, according to officials and diplomats.
The plan, spearheaded by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, would double military support for Ukraine—following the bloc’s contribution of around 20 billion euros in 2024—to bolster Kyiv's defense against Russia's ongoing invasion.
While northern and eastern European countries have expressed strong backing for the proposal, diplomats say that some southern European capitals remain reticent. This division reflects differing levels of exposure to Russia, with nations closer to the conflict having provided more aid relative to their GDP. For instance, Estonia, Denmark, and Lithuania have contributed more than 2% of their GDP in aid to Ukraine between January 2022 and December 2024, as estimated by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, while Italy, Spain, along with Slovenia, Portugal, Greece, and Cyprus, have given less than 0.5%. Hungary, known for its Russia-friendly stance, is at the bottom of the table.
During a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Kallas said her proposal had "broad political support" and that discussions were moving into the details. However, Italy and Spain's ministers emphasized that it was premature to commit. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated, "We are waiting for the Trump-Putin telephone call to see if there will be any steps forward in order to reach a ceasefire," adding that Italy must also address domestic budget constraints amid a need to boost its own defense spending.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares echoed this cautious approach, noting, "We'll see how the debate goes, but at this point there's no decision on it." Albares highlighted that Spain has already committed 1 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine this year and argued that Madrid’s support has been evident without waiting for further EU proposals.
Meanwhile, Slovakia indicated it would not obstruct the plan but signaled it would also decline to contribute. EU officials stress that since contributions under the proposal would be voluntary, neither Hungary nor Slovakia should block the initiative. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, speaking on X, declared, "We will not be dragged into this, nor will we let Hungarian taxpayers' money be used to finance arms supplies to Ukraine."
As uncertainty lingers over the future of U.S. support under President Donald Trump’s administration—especially following his recent remarks and planned discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin—the debate over additional EU military aid to Ukraine remains a contentious issue. The differing perspectives among member states underscore the challenges of forging a unified response amid diverse economic conditions and geopolitical priorities.
The UN's International Maritime Organization has paused escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship was reportedly attacked near...
The United Nations' top human rights official has called for independent investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration detention facilities, citing a...
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead a...
An aircraft roughly the size of a car crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday evening, triggering a major emergency response and a heavy p...
Montenegrin police, working alongside the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation, have arrested an Iranian national accused of carrying out a ...
A severe heatwave sweeping across Europe has caused widespread disruption, with power outages reported in parts of France, emergency heat alerts issued in the United Kingdom and Spain, and growing pressure on energy and transport systems across the continent.
A war of words has erupted between Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Donald Trump after the U.S. President told Italian media that Meloni “begged” to take a photograph with him at the G7 summit earlier this week.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has announced that Italy will reopen its embassy in Tehran on Friday (19 June), marking a rare reversal in a period of heightened regional instability and disrupted diplomatic ties across the Middle East.
Seven people have been arrested in Italy over suspected sabotage attacks on high-speed railway lines during the Winter Olympics earlier this year.
An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck Japan's northeast coast on Thursday, but no tsunami warning was issued, no injuries were immediately reported and no irregularities were found at nuclear facilities, the authorities said.
As Western Europe battles a deadly heatwave that has shattered temperature records, disrupted transport and power supplies, and forced the closure of schools and cultural landmarks, attention is turning to whether El Niño is playing a role in the extreme conditions.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
The Kremlin has denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming Moscow is pressuring Belarus to support an expanded Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble, as emergency crews and international rescue teams race to respond.
The United Nations' top human rights official has called for independent investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration detention facilities, citing a rise in fatalities among people held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
An aircraft roughly the size of a car crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday evening, triggering a major emergency response and a heavy police presence as authorities sealed off the area and gave no immediate explanation for the incident.
Montenegrin police, working alongside the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation, have arrested an Iranian national accused of carrying out a series of cyberattacks that allegedly caused an estimated $3.4 billion in damage to U.S. infrastructure.
South Korea is set to dramatically expand its unmanned warfare capabilities, with plans to integrate drones across all branches of its military as tensions with North Korea continue to shape the country's defence strategy.
Fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have begun to recover following an interim U.S.–Iran agreement aimed at stabilising the waterway after months of disruption during conflict, industry data shows.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment