NNA - NATO foreign ministers are set to discuss how to put military support for Ukraine on a long-term footing.

At a two-day meeting beginning on Wednesday, ministers are expected to discuss a proposal by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg for a 100 billion euro ($108bn) five-year fund for Ukraine, officials said.

Under the plan, NATO would take over some coordination work from a United States-led coalition known as the Ramstein group. The step is designed in part to guard against any cut in US support if Donald Trump returns to the White House, diplomats said, according to the Reuters news agency.

“Foreign ministers will discuss the best way to organise NATO’s support for Ukraine, to make it more powerful, predictable and enduring,” a NATO official said.

“No final decisions are to be taken at the April ministerial meetings, and discussions will continue as we approach the Washington summit in July.”

The proposal is expected to be discussed at the meeting in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday, with the aim of finalising a package in time for a NATO summit in Washington in July.

Until now, NATO as an organisation has restricted itself to non-lethal aid for Ukraine out of fears that a more direct role could trigger an escalation of tensions with Russia. Most of its members provide weapons to Ukraine on a bilateral basis.

But diplomats said there was a growing view within NATO that the time had come to put military aid to Ukraine on a more sustainable, long-term footing and the transatlantic alliance was best placed to take on much of that role.--agencies

==================R.H.