Secretary General in Kyiv: Ukraine is on an “irreversible path” to NATO, support will continue.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Kyiv on Monday (29 April 2024) for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the state of the war and the future of NATO’s support to Ukraine.
The Secretary General praised President Zelenskyy’s leadership and the bravery of the Ukrainian forces and people, but acknowledged that “leadership and bravery alone cannot repel the Russian forces; you also need arms and ammunition.” He recognised that serious delays in support have translated to serious consequences on the battlefield. "Ukraine has been outgunned for months... fewer Russian missiles and drones have been shot down, and Russia has been able to push forward on the front line," said Mr Stoltenberg. "But it is not too late for Ukraine to prevail. More support is on the way."
Defence ministers heard President Zelenskyy’s clear appeal at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council a few days ago, “and they agreed to step up our support,” said Mr Stoltenberg. He welcomed the major new package from the United States, providing over 60 billion dollars’ worth of aid, as well as new commitments by the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, adding: “I expect further announcements soon.”
The two leaders addressed preparations for the NATO Summit in July. "Allies have already agreed to plan for a greater NATO role in coordinating security assistance and training for Ukraine," said the Secretary General. “I believe we also need a major, multi-year financial commitment to sustain our support. To demonstrate that our support to Ukraine is not short term and ad hoc, but long term and predictable. Moscow must understand: they cannot win. And they cannot wait us out.”
On membership, Mr Stoltenberg said: "Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO. Ukraine will become a member of NATO. The work we are undertaking now puts you on an irreversible path towards NATO membership, so that when the time is right, Ukraine can become a NATO member straightaway."
🗣 | NATO Secretary General:
President Zelenskyy,
My dear friend Volodymyr,
Thank you for your warm welcome.
Thank you for receiving me and my delegation here in Kyiv.
And as you said this is my third visit after the full scale invasion.
But I also had the privilege of meeting you here in Kyiv, in Brussels,
And several other places several times, also before the full scale invasion.
So let me start by thanking you for the cooperation and the friendship we have developed over all these years,
Both before but not least after the full scale invasion by Russia against Ukraine.
Your leadership is a powerful example to us all.
The bravery of your people and armed forces continues to inspire the whole world.
But leadership and bravery alone cannot repel the Russian forces.
You also need arms and ammunition.
Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, NATO Allies have provided Ukraine with unprecedented support - including 99 percent of all military aid.
At the same time, I know that serious delays in support have meant serious consequences on the battlefield.
For months, the U.S. was unable to agree a package.
And European Allies have been unable to deliver ammunition at the scale we promised.
Ukraine has been outgunned for months - forced to ration its ammunition.
This means that fewer Russian missiles and drones have been shot down.
And Russia has been able to push forward along the front line.
But it is not too late for Ukraine to prevail.
More support is on the way.
So Mister President, you addressed NATO Defence Ministers in the NATO-Ukraine Council I chaired just a few days ago.
Allies heard your clear appeal.
And they agreed to step up our support.
I welcome that the United States has now approved a major new package.
It provides over 60 billion US dollars’ worth of aid, including critical air defence and artillery ammunition.
The U.K. has just announced its largest delivery yet - including dozens of combat boats, hundreds of vehicles, thousands of missiles, and millions of rounds of ammunition.
Germany will deliver an additional Patriot system.
The Netherlands is contributing an additional 4 billion euros.
Other Allies are looking into what more they can do.
And I expect new announcements soon.
Transcript continues: www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_225154.htm
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