BRUSSELS (VG) NATO countries have agreed to strengthen aid to Ukraine. This was stated by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after NATO’s Foreign Ministers’ meeting on Thursday. But it is unclear whether Ukraine will get everything they ask for.
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– We agree that we will continue and strengthen aid to Ukraine, so they can stand up to Russia, Stoltenberg said on Thursday afternoon.
At the meeting with NATO Foreign Ministers on Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba offered this understanding, which he stated at his post-press conference:
– You support us with everything we need. And we will not only fight for our security, but also for their security so that Putin can not test NATO Article 5, Kuleba said.
Article 5 is NATO’s commitment to common defense and to defend all member states in the event of any of them being attacked.
Recognizes that it is urgent
When VG’s question about whether Kuleba and NATO now have a common understanding of what will happen next, Stoltenberg answered as follows:
– The message from all allies is that we are ready to supply support to Ukraine, and the allies recognize the need for more support. That is the main message from the Allies, said NATO Secretary General.
At the same time, he emphasized that NATO’s core mission is to ensure that NATO countries have a credible defense that can also deter possible attacks.
– Ukraine’s courage and their armed forces and political leadership inspire us all. And it is important that we continue to support them, he added.
–– Cautious optimist
– I am cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the discussions, Kuleba said after the meeting.
Kuleba also called on NATO to speed up the decision-making process, urging member states to stop saying that they are “still thinking”, “going through procedures” and that there are “problems that need to be resolved before decisions are made”.
“Either you help us now, and then I mean days and not weeks, or the help will come too late,” he said.
The question is when
Asked if Ukraine has received promises of new military equipment, Kuleba replied:
– Weapons are like money, they like silence. And I do not want to be in a position to go into details, but let me put it this way: I have no doubt that Ukraine will have the necessary weapons to fight. The question is when.
Kuleba also said that he sees different progress from the different countries in contributing weapons, and that some countries are most concerned about sanctions as a tool, without saying which specific countries he was referring to.
“The pressure on Russia has increased, but as long as the West continues to buy Russian gas and oil, they will support Ukraine with one hand and Russia’s war machine with the other,” Kuleba said.
– People die today. We need steps that will stop the Russian war machine today. When this is not done, we can not say that the sanctions have full effect.
– I am happy with the overall dynamics, but unfortunately the price is still quite high.
– We are still discussing, he adds.
Will support investigation
Stoltenberg also said that NATO would support an international investigation into the civilian lives lost after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
– We condemn the horrific killings of civilians in Butsja, and other places recently liberated from Russia. All facts must be brought to the table, those responsible must be held accountable, and allies support an international investigation.
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