UK and France block NATO plan to commit 0.25% of GDP to Ukraine support

The United Kingdom, France and other NATO members have blocked a proposal that would require each alliance member to contribute 0.25% of their GDP annually to military aid for Ukraine. The plan faced opposition from within the alliance, according to sources cited by The Telegraph.

A NATO proposal that would have committed member states to spending 0.25% of their gross domestic product on military support for Ukraine has been blocked by the United Kingdom, France, and several other alliance members, The Telegraph reported, citing an internal alliance source.

The plan was designed to create a structured, long-term financing framework for Ukraine's war effort, ensuring consistent military assistance from all 32 NATO members. However, it encountered significant resistance before gaining traction within the alliance.

The UK and France, two of NATO's largest military contributors, were among those opposing the proposal. Critics of the plan reportedly argued that setting a fixed GDP-based contribution formula could create political and budgetary complications for member states.

The move highlights ongoing tensions within NATO over how best to sustain military aid to Ukraine at a time when the conflict with Russia shows no sign of ending. While member states have broadly agreed on the need to continue supporting Kyiv, the question of how to formalise and fairly distribute that burden remains unresolved.

The failure to advance the annual plan adds pressure on NATO leaders ahead of upcoming summits, where Kyiv's long-term security arrangements and financial support are expected to be central agenda items.