Ukraine: NATO’s Secretary General Mr. Jens Stoltenberg has announced that Ukraine has been provided with 1,550 armored vehicles and 230 tanks by NATO allies and partner countries, which constitutes over 98 percent of the combat vehicles promised to Ukraine during Russia’s invasion and war. The deliveries were made to form units and help Ukraine regain territory from Russian forces.

“In total, we have trained and equipped more than nine new Ukrainian armoured brigades. This will put Ukraine in a strong position to continue to retake occupied territory,” Stoltenberg told a news conference.

More than 30,000 troops are estimated to make up the new brigades. Ukraine’s allies have also sent “vast amounts of ammunition” and some NATO partner countries, such as Sweden and Australia, have also provided armoured vehicles. NATO member countries have also provided anti-aircraft systems and artillery, while Poland and the Czech Republic have given Soviet-built MiG-29 aircraft.

Mr. Stoltenberg highlighted the “unprecedented military support to Ukraine,” but warned that Russia should not be underestimated.  According to the alliance chief, Moscow was mobilising more ground forces and was “willing to send in thousands of troops with very high casualty rates.”

“In the face of what appears to be a prolonged conflict, NATO countries must continue to provide Ukraine with what it needs to prevail,” Mr. Stoltenberg noted, adding that a NATO summit in Lithuania in July 2022 would set out plans for a multi-year program of support for Ukraine.

The announcement came after Ukrainian President Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Chinese leader Mr. Xi Jinping had a “long and meaningful” phone call in their first known contact since Russia’s full-scale invasion more than a year ago.

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