Defence Ministers of the 31-member NATO concluded their two-day formal meeting in Brussels Friday after preparing for the Vilnius Summit in July, and pledged more arms and financial support to Ukraine.
“As Russia’s war of aggression continues, it remains crucial that we increase our support,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a closing press conference.
He welcomed new announcements from NATO countries, including the initiative led by the Netherlands and Denmark to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets and, together with the United Kingdom and the United States, to deliver short and medium-range air defence missiles.
“Ukrainian forces have stepped up operations along the front line, and are making progress – but they face tough terrain, dug-in Russian troops, and fierce fighting,” he stated.
Stoltenberg welcomed that NATO member states have so far made contributions and commitments amounting to 500 million euros (USD 547 million) to NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package.
He noted that NATO is working on a multi-year package with substantial funding for Ukraine, and working to establish a new NATO-Ukraine Council, where Ukraine and Allies will consult and decide on security issues on an equal basis.
“Our ambition is to have the first meeting of the new Council in Vilnius, with President Zelenskyy,” he said.
Stoltenberg highlighted that, for the first time since the Cold War, NATO countries are “fully connecting the planning for our collective defence with the planning for our forces, capabilities, and command and control”.
He indicated “NATO will have over 300,000 troops on high readiness, backed by substantial air and maritime capabilities”.
NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group also met to discuss the nuclear aspects of the current security environment and the ongoing adaptation of NATO’s nuclear deterrence.
“Iran and North Korea continue their nuclear and missile development programmes. At the same time, China pursues its rapid and opaque nuclear expansion. These challenges are of great concern to NATO,” he added.
Source: Kuwait News Agency