If the U.S. leaves NATO, the defense standard should go to 4 percent

Ukraine and Germany have signed a defense agreement for continued military support. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin today, where they signed the agreement. The deal covers more than 7 billion euros through 2024.

After his visit to Germany, Zelensky will travel to France, where he will sign a similar agreement with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, later today. Details of that deal are not yet known, but French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejournay said this week that military support would be part of it.

In anticipation of NATO membership, Zelensky focused on negotiating defense agreements with several NATO member states. At a NATO summit last July, the G7 pledged long-term aid to Ukraine, including arms support and training of the Ukrainian military. This support should be arranged through bilateral security agreements. A treaty was signed with England in January. The Netherlands is also discussing such an agreement with Ukraine.

Now that further support from the United States has been delayed due to Republican opposition in the US Congress, Zelensky is eager to increase military support from European allies. According to figures from the Kiel Institute, the United States has so far pledged more than 40 billion euros in military aid. That's twice as much as Germany, Ukraine's biggest supporter in Europe. Scholz has repeatedly called on his European counterparts to increase support for Ukraine.

Thom Canters