Belgium: Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, has asked for members of the security alliance to continue supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia’s invasion during the meeting between NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
Mr. Stoltenberg stated that, “We just have to stay the course. This is also about our security interests.”
The US has provided more than $40 billion in security aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022 and pledged to back Kyiv for as long as necessary.
However, the $60 billion US military aid package proposed by the US President, Mr. Joe Biden’s administration is in limbo due to opposition from some Republicans in Congress.
“I’m confident that the US will continue to provide support and because it is in the security interests of the US to do so. And it is also in line with what we have agreed,” Mr. Stoltenberg remarked.
Arriving in Brussels, US Secretary of State, Mr. Antony Blinken, said that NATO ministers would be “strongly reaffirming our support for Ukraine as it continues to face Russia’s war of aggression”.
Mr. Stoltenberg noted that recent pledges from Germany and the Netherlands worth $11 billion as evidence that NATO remained committed to supporting Kyiv.
“Even though the frontline has not moved so much, the Ukrainians have been able to inflict heavy losses on the Russian forces,” the NATO chief commented.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Dmytro Kuleba, will attempt to get over this fatigue and lobby for continued NATO backing when he joins the summit.
“It will be a tragedy for Ukrainians if President, Mr. Putin wins but it will also be dangerous for us. Then the message to all authoritarian leaders – not only in Moscow but also in Beijing – is that when they violate international law, when they invade another country, when they use force, they get what they want,” Mr. Stoltenberg added.
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