In a final effort to secure international assistance for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is advocating for a comprehensive plan that would establish a five-year, 100 billion euro fund for Ukraine. Stoltenberg, who will be stepping down later this year after a decade at the helm of the alliance, is also proposing that NATO take the lead in coordinating weapons deliveries for Kyiv by assuming leadership of the U.S.-led Ramstein group.

The primary objective behind these proposals is to ensure that Europe takes a greater role in its own security, amid concerns that the United States may not always be a reliable partner in the future. "This is not just Trump-proofing, but U.S.-proofing in some ways," remarked Jim Townsend, an expert at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and former senior Pentagon official focused on NATO. The idea is for Europe to acknowledge that it must step up, regardless of the political dynamics in the U.S.

Stoltenberg's mission is to garner consensus among the 32 NATO member countries and make the formal announcement of the plan during NATO's annual summit in July, which will also mark the alliance's 75th anniversary. The summit holds great significance, given the public tensions that arose during the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the U.S. and other member states for the absence of a concrete proposal to integrate Ukraine into the alliance.

However, the U.S. and Germany remain firm opponents of Ukraine receiving a NATO membership bid during the upcoming summit in Washington. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that, while Ukraine's membership in NATO is inevitable, the focus of the summit is to pave the way for that membership. This underscores the uphill battle Stoltenberg faces in securing unanimous support from all alliance members.

One potential obstacle to consensus is Hungary, which has rejected the NATO proposals. Additionally, Slovakia's recent shift towards a far-right government that maintains a friendlier stance towards Moscow could prove to be unpredictable. Other NATO member states, such as Spain and Italy, have expressed concerns regarding the funding specifics of the 100 billion euro fund, as they are wary of duplicating bilateral and EU contributions to Ukraine's aid.

Nonetheless, experts like Stephen Flanagan, a senior fellow at the RAND Corporation and former National Security Council official, view the proposals as a worthwhile endeavor to bridge divides within NATO. Stoltenberg's reputation as NATO's longtime leader will likely play a crucial role in achieving consensus by the July summit. During his tenure, Stoltenberg effectively guided the alliance through the challenges posed by former U.S. President Donald Trump's criticisms as well as French President Emmanuel Macron's provocative remarks in 2019.

The proposals put forth by Stoltenberg represent a significant shift for NATO, as they would place the alliance in a more direct confrontation with Russia. Up until now, Western allies, concerned about provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin, have maintained some distance between NATO and Ukraine. However, Baltic, Polish, and Ukrainian officials argue that NATO membership is the only guarantee against further Russian aggression in Ukraine, particularly in the event of a truce, cease-fire, or peace agreement.

As Stoltenberg prepares to pass the baton, his push for international support to bolster Ukraine's security marks a critical moment for NATO's future role in Europe's defense and stability. The upcoming summit in July will reveal whether the alliance can align its member states around a cohesive strategy to address the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.