Ukraine says Western military aid is ‘not enough’,Western countries should allocate 1% of their GDP to Ukraine’s struggle with Russia, according to controversial Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Melnik.
“We are grateful to our allies for their military assistance.” But it’s not enough,” Melnik commented on Twitter on Saturday.
Since the start of the war in February, the US has contributed more than $35.4 billion in armaments to Kiev, with the EU and its member states contributing another $13.3 billion. But Melnik emphasized that “Ukraine needs 10 times more to finish Russian aggression this year.”
“We call on our partners to cross all artificial’red lines’ and devote 1% of GDP to weapons deliveries,” the diplomat stated.
NATO demands that its member states allocate 2% of their GDP to defense spending. However, the bloc’s annual report, which was published in March, revealed that only seven of its 30 members had been able to meet that target in 2022.
Kiev, which earlier this year won a guarantee from the US, UK, Germany, and other countries to send main battle tanks, is now urging its international backers to also supply warplanes.
Melnik also criticized German Foreign Minister Boris Pistorius for claiming that Tornado and Eurofighter fighters would be “unsuitable” for the Ukrainian military in another tweet on Saturday.
“Oh, yes?”Really?” wrote the deputy foreign minister. Berlin had previously ruled out delivering Leopard 2 tanks, but is now “so proud” to be sending 18 to Kiev, he said.
Melnik was Ukraine’s ambassador in Germany until last July, and often made headlines in this role with scandalous comments. He labeled German Chancellor Olaf Scholz an “offended liverwurst” for his unwillingness to visit Kiev, but later apologized. He also told Elon Musk to “f**k off” in relation to the billionaire’s peace proposals.
In one interview as ambassador, Melnik defended controversial Ukrainian hero Stepan Bandera, who collaborated with the Nazis during WWII and is accused of the mass murder of Jews and Poles, comparing him to noble thief Robin Hood. Melnik wasn’t without a job for long following his dismissal, having been promoted to deputy foreign minister last November.
