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European NATO allies will provide Ukraine with an additional €70 billion in military and financial assistance during 2026–2027 under a German-led initiative, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, UATV English reports.
“At Germany’s initiative, we aim to reach an agreement on new additional funding for Ukraine. In 2026 and 2027, European allies will provide another €70 billion,” Merz said.
He noted that Russia’s war against Ukraine will be one of the central topics of the NATO summit and expressed hope that the meeting would mark the beginning of the “Spirit of Ankara,” strengthening Allied unity and increasing pressure on Russia.
“I would like us to jointly create the Spirit of Ankara. This summit should send a clear signal: we are building a more European NATO so that NATO can remain transatlantic,” Merz said.
The German chancellor also expressed hope that the summit would become a turning point in the war.
“The Kremlin must gradually realize that Russia cannot win this war and will not achieve its military objectives,” he said.
Merz stressed the importance of preserving the unity demonstrated by allies during the G7 Summit in Évian, where leaders, together with U.S. President Donald Trump, called on Moscow to end the war.
“We also want to strengthen the unity we achieved at the G7 Summit in Évian. Together with President Trump, we made it very clear that Moscow must end this war. That decision depends on Moscow. This is our shared conviction,” he said.
The chancellor also warned that Russia continues to pose a serious threat to European security.
“Russia remains a serious threat. Every day Moscow tests our resolve through cyberattacks, sabotage, espionage attempts and targeted disinformation,” Merz said.
