The foreign ministers representing NATO's 32 member states gathered in Brussels on Wednesday to commemorate the alliance's 75th anniversary. Among the key topics under

discussion was a significant proposal to establish a 100 billion euro fund aimed at providing assistance to Ukraine in its ongoing conflict against Russia.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg introduced the proposal for a five-year fund, emphasizing its purpose to "ensure reliable and predictable security assistance to Ukraine for the long haul." Speaking upon his arrival at the meeting, Stoltenberg stressed the need to alter the dynamics of support for Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed support for the proposal, highlighting the importance of providing Ukraine with "reliable, long-term structures" of assistance. Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins echoed this sentiment, suggesting that member states could contribute to the fund based on a percentage of their GDP.

Addressing concerns about the feasibility of the proposal, Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib cautioned against making promises that cannot be fulfilled. She indicated that NATO members would engage in discussions to assess the plan's viability.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto asserted Hungary's stance, emphasizing that Hungary would not support any NATO initiatives that could escalate the alliance towards war or transition it from a defensive to an offensive coalition, as confirmed by government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs.

Stoltenberg refrained from providing specific details about the proposal, noting that a decision on the fund was not anticipated immediately. The objective is to achieve a consensus before NATO's upcoming summit in Washington scheduled for July. Photo by FinnishGovernment, Wikimedia commons.