Commitment to Ukraine by Europe

"No one  talks about stopping after this [massive bombing attack on residential neighbourhoods] happens."

"The sanctions aren't working. The West must stop procrastinating with ammunition, air defence and financial support, or what we are getting here will come to their countries."

"Do you want Russia on your borders? Do you think they will stop?"

"The war is not over and Putin's getting stronger and won't stop. Why would he stop? He must be defeated."

Ukrainian political leader Kira Rudik

"I therefore call on our allies in the European Union to also step up their efforts in support of Ukraine."

"The arms deliveries for Ukraine planned so far by the majority of EU member states are by all means too small."

"We need higher contributions."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

"My personal priority is to have an agreement by 27 [countries]."

"And if this is not possible, we are prepared for an agreement by 26 [minus holdout Hungary]."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

 

Russia has renewed its attacks against Ukraine, likely emboldened by the stale-mate in Washington which has placed further support for the Ukrainian counteroffensive against the Kremlin on ice for the time being at a time when ongoing military assistance is critical. In Europe, leaders are attuned to the nature of Vladimir Putin's bellicosity and hunger for expansion. They fully understand that nothing will stop Putin, and they are just as likely to be next on his 'special military operation' agenda as any.

This uppermost in mind, European leaders are looking to increase their support. Data, in fact, from the German-based Kiel Institute indicates that aid to Ukraine from European nations represents a doubling of the aid being provided to the embattled country as compared to what the United States has committed to. 

 

Britain and France jointly reaffirmed a pledge to defeat the Russian war machine. "What we have to do is make that economic strength [the combined economies of the West 25 times larger than Russia's], and that commitment pay", asserted British Foreign Secretary David Cameron. "I have no doubt that we can make sure that Putin loses and it's essential that he does lose."

When British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier in January visited Kyiv, he announced a $4.3 billion support package.  In the same token, French President Emmanuel Macron made an announcement of his country planning to deliver additional military aid to Ukraine that would include 40 long-range cruise missiles and hundreds of bombs.

The Baltic states and Norway together delivered the equivalent of over one percent of their economies in support of Ukraine, according to figures released by the Kiel Institute. Fighter jets have been pledged by European countries and last summer the Netherlands and Denmark pledged they would supply Ukraine with 61 F-16s in coming years. As new replacement models arrive, Belgium is prepared to deliver over 50 jets, and Norway is to donate  upwards of 10 F-16s.

A new trilateral initiative to improve maritime safety in the Black Sea and assist Ukraine in maintaining open shipping lanes by clearing Russian mines, was signed off by Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. Members of the European Parliament in Brussels have taken to efforts to strip Budapest of its veto powers so that they can prevent Hungary from blocking aid to Ukraine.

 

The G7 is considering whether to confiscate $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to finance the war in the realization that they have no option but to assist Ukraine in defeating Russia or risk becoming the next countries to face an unexpected invasion with Russian bombs destroying their own homes and neighbourhoods.

"Europe has clearly overtaken the United States in promised aid to Ukraine, with total European commitments now being twice as large."

"A main reason is the EU’s new €50 billion “Ukraine Facility,” but also other European countries have upped their support with new multi-year packages."

"For the first time since the start of the war, the US is now clearly lagging behind. This is one of the results of the latest update of the Ukraine Support Tracker."

Kiel Institute for the World Economy