- For now, we are focused on how to ensure Ukraine’s success. “Our support helps it move towards Euro-Atlantic integration,” Stoltenberg told reporters before the meeting began.
- The NATO chief also said that Volodymyr Zelensky accepted the invitation to attend the NATO summit in Vilnius
- And at the NATO base in Ramstein, another meeting was held at the level of defense ministers of about 40 countries that provide arms to Ukraine to repel Russian aggression. The meeting was attended by Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin and Polish Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Mariusz Puszczak
- More of this information can be found on the Onet homepage
NATO Secretary-General said that the countries of the alliance are helping Ukraine to liberate more lands from the Russian occupation and provide “large quantities of advanced and modern tanks compatible with NATO standards,” such as the Challenger and Abrams tanks. Stoltenberg announced that the Allies intended to continue supporting Ukraine in terms of armaments.
“I expect the Allies will agree on a long-term program to help Ukraine move from Soviet standards, equipment and doctrines to Euro-Atlantic ones,” Stoltenberg said. “At the moment, we are focused on how to ensure Ukraine’s success. Our support helps it move towards Euro-Atlantic integration,” he added.
The NATO chief also said that Volodymyr Zelensky accepted the invitation to attend the NATO summit in Vilnius. Earlier, the Ukrainian president noted that the lack of a political invitation for Ukraine to join NATO at the July summit will be misunderstood by the majority of Ukrainians and residents of NATO countries. Jens Stoltenberg visited Kiev on Thursday.
Today, at the NATO base in Ramstein, another meeting is taking place at the level of defense ministers of about 40 countries that provide arms to Ukraine to repel Russian aggression.
The meeting was attended by Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin and Polish Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Mariusz Puszczak.
More text below the video.
In 2008, NATO pledged that Ukraine would eventually join the alliance, but the process stalled. In the year 2022, Russia has launched an invasion of Ukraine. In the current situation, many Western capitals say that helping Ukraine win the war is now a priority, and a discussion of the political relationship between NATO and Kiev will have to wait.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has ruled out a quick decision on Ukraine’s NATO membership. “The door is wide open, but this is not the time to make decisions now,” Pistorius told public broadcaster ZDF on Thursday.
Pistorius said that Ukraine’s decision to join the alliance could not be taken solely out of solidarity, but “with a calm head and a warm heart. Not the other way around.”
The minister added that Ukraine’s possible membership in NATO or the European Union will not be discussed on Friday at the fourth meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group at the US Air Force Base Ramstein in Germany.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also called on NATO on Thursday to open the way for his country’s accession to the alliance at a summit in July.
On Tuesday, the ministers met formally in the format of the NATO-Ukraine Commission — in a symbolic move underlining Kiev’s aspirations for closer ties. Politico wrote that Hungary, which has long banned meetings of this body, was reluctant to attend the session but said it would continue to oppose Ukraine’s integration.
Speaking after a ministerial meeting with Kuleba, the NATO chief told reporters that the allies had increased their contributions to NATO’s non-lethal fund for Ukraine.
“Accordingly, we will develop a multi-year support initiative for Ukraine to help ensure its deterrence and defense, move from Soviet-era equipment and principles to NATO standards, and increase interoperability with NATO,” Stoltenberg said.
Source: PAP, Onet
