European Support for Ukraine Faces Challenges Amidst Shifting US Policy
Brussels – As uncertainty grows regarding continued US aid to Ukraine,European nations are attempting to solidify a “coalition of the willing” to maintain support for Kyiv,but face internal hurdles regarding sanctions and EU accession negotiations.
Recent data from the kiel Institut’s Ukraine Support Tracker reveals a significant drop in european military aid, falling by 57% in July and August compared to the first half of the year – despite contributions to NATO‘s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), established at the request of former US President Donald Trump to facilitate European purchases of US-made weaponry. The Kiel institut cautioned that further monitoring is needed to determine if this decline represents a temporary fluctuation or a longer-term trend.
The EU is exploring utilizing frozen Russian central bank assets to aid Ukraine, but this plan is contingent on ensuring the assets remain permanently frozen. Current EU sanctions, which underpin the asset freeze, require unanimous renewal every six months, a process intricate by Hungary’s potential veto.
This unanimity requirement is proving problematic.as of this week, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has blocked the EU’s latest round of sanctions against Russia, citing unrelated grievances regarding EU policies on the automotive and energy sectors.
Moreover,Hungary continues to obstruct the commencement of technical negotiations for ukraine’s EU membership bid,launched shortly after the full-scale russian invasion. No progress is anticipated at the current summit, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán skipping the Ukraine discussion to attend events commemorating the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, crushed by Soviet forces. EU leaders are expected to simply acknowledge that three negotiating areas are prepared for opening.
These internal divisions highlight the challenges Europe faces in sustaining unwavering support for Ukraine, notably given the potential for shifts in US policy.
