Italy, Spain not ready to back EU plan to boost Ukraine military aid

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.

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