Ukraine needs tenfold military aid against Russia

So far, all allies together have provided around 50 billion euros. “But that’s not enough,” said the Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister.

Andriy Melnyk, then Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, called on partners in the West not to draw artificial red lines when it comes to spending on arms supplies. Michael Kappeler/dpa

The Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk has called for a tenfold increase in Western military aid against the Russian war of aggression. “We are grateful to our allies for their military assistance. But that’s not enough,” the former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany wrote on Twitter on Saturday evening. “Ukraine needs ten times more to end Russian aggression this year.” So far, all allies together have provided $55 billion (50 billion euros). But it takes ten times as much, the diplomat emphasized.

The partners in the west should finally stop drawing artificial red lines and then spend one percent of their gross domestic product on arms deliveries to Ukraine, Melnyk demanded. In the case of Germany alone, that would be more than 35 billion euros. The Ukrainian diplomat said the amounts are small compared to World War II. “The allies should understand the extent of this war,” warned Melnyk, who also appeared on a Ukrainian television talk show on the subject.

Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for around 14 months with the help of the West, which is supplying weapons and ammunition. Last year, Ukraine also managed to recapture larger areas. The country is currently preparing for a new offensive to liberate even more territories. Russia, too, is now ramping up its wartime economy. The nuclear power is preparing for a long war against Ukraine.