Dwindling Western Aid for Ukraine Under Scrutiny
Western military aid for Ukraine has taken a noticeable dive, as reported by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. New pledges announced between August and October 2023 saw a mind-boggling 90% decrease compared to the same period in the previous year, with a mere 2.11 billion euros committed during this time period.
Christoph Trebesch, head of the Ukraine Support Tracker team, explained the drop, saying, "Our figures suggest that backers have grown more tentative in recent months." Ukraine's dependence on key contributors such as Germany, the US, and the Nordic countries has become increasingly apparent.
As uncertainty surrounding future US aid persists, Ukraine places its hopes on the EU's long-awaited 50 billion euro aid package. Trebesch warned, "Further delays could bolster Putin's position", referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Senate's opposition Republicans effectively halted a proposed aid package valued at $106 billion (around 98 billion euros) for Israel and Ukraine on Wednesday. The US's immigration policy and border security with Mexico sparked this dispute inside the Senate.
Interestingly, EU nations have gradually closed the military aid pledge gap with the US. Between August and October, EU countries promised 780 million euros for heavy weapons — surpassing the US's 500 million euros.
Additional Perspectives:
- Despite the decrease in Western military aid for Ukraine between August and October, compared to the same period the previous year, key donors like Germany, the US, and the Nordic countries continue to play a vital role in supporting Ukraine.
- EU countries have emerged as significant contributors, surpassing the US in military aid pledges between August and October. This unexpected shift has been noteworthy, with EU countries allocating 780 million euros compared to the US's 500 million euros for heavy weapons during that period.
- Given the uncertainties surrounding US aid, Ukraine has pinned its hopes on the EU's 50 billion euro aid package. The EU's response could significantly impact the balance of power on the international stage.
Sources: [1]
Enrichment Data: The total amount of Western military aid pledged to Ukraine has significantly increased between August and October 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year. Here are the key details:
- Totals to Date: Western governments have pledged over $380 billion in aid to Ukraine since the invasion, with nearly $118 billion in direct military aid from individual countries.
- Recent Developments: Between August and October 2023, the US alone pledged about $45 billion in arms and military aid to Ukraine. By September 2024, these commitments would amount to over $174 billion.
- European Contributions: European countries have provided substantial aid, allocating €70 billion in financial and humanitarian aid and €62 billion in military aid. Germany, for example, has committed approximately €28 billion in military assistance and €7.1 billion specifically for security capacity building in 2024 alone.
- Primary Donors: Key contributors during this period include:
- United States: The US has emerged as the largest provider of military aid, with pledges exceeding $174 billion by September 2024.
- Germany: Germany has contributed approximately €28 billion in military assistance and earm
