Only about half of weapons and military equipment pledged to Ukraine by its Western allies have actually been delivered to the war-torn nation, a German think tank has revealed. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which tracks military aid to Kyiv, said in a recent report that the current gap between promised and delivered military aid is “wide.”
Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, at least 253 billion euros ($271 billion) have been committed to Ukraine to support its ground and aerial operations. The report specified that among the countries whose deliveries remain “well below promises” are the US, Germany, and the UK. Meanwhile, European donors such as the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland, and Slovakia had outperformed others, delivering more than 80 percent of their promised military aid.
In addition to slow weapon shipments, the think tank explained that recent pledges are not as large as at the beginning of the year. From February 25 to May 31, the value of all recorded commitments to Kyiv was 165 billion euros ($176 billion), thanks to the $61-billion aid package approved by American lawmakers in April 2024. But Kiel Institute director Christoph Trebesch said the level of new commitments has trended downward this spring after an apparent spike before the anniversary of the war. “Military pledges gain in importance with the duration of the war and Ukraine’s offensive plans,” he said.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has long lamented the concerning delays in weapons deliveries by its Western allies. He said earlier this year that the late arrival of military aid packages has made the frontline situation worse for the war-ravaged nation. He also stated that Russian forces have been trying to take advantage of the delay in Western support. “And that is exactly why the speed of deliveries means stabilizing the front,” Zelensky noted.
