North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has reaffirmed the military alliance’s commitment to providing Ukraine with continued military and financial assistance in its conflict with Russia. Stoltenberg further advocated for an annual contribution of at least 40 billion euros ($43 billion) from Western nations for the duration of the conflict.
Stoltenberg indicated that concrete plans for this assistance would be discussed at the NATO summit in July, though it won’t involve deploying allied troops to Ukraine.”
“We will explore avenues to ensure ongoing support for Ukraine,” Stoltenberg stated during his inaugural visit to Finland following its accession into the military alliance.
Stoltenberg further pledged that allies would endeavor to reach a consensus on a long-term financial commitment for Ukraine at the NATO summit in Washington in July, with this commitment hopefully providing Ukraine with the necessary stability it needs to win the conflict. (Related: NATO to overstep Russia’s red line as it mulls sending troops to train Ukrainian armed forces.)
The week prior, Stoltenberg emphasized that NATO member states must collectively contribute at least 40 billion euros annually for Ukraine’s military needs against Russia. He urged allies to equitably share the financial responsibility for this aid.
However, Stoltenberg clarified that NATO has no intentions of deploying troops to Ukraine. He stressed that NATO’s primary objective is to establish a robust and institutionalized framework for military and financial assistance to Kyiv as long as needed.
Addressing concerns over delays and inadequacies in delivering promised arms and ammunition to Ukraine, Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of ensuring timely and sufficient support. He announced efforts to establish a NATO mission dedicated to Ukraine to prevent such lapses in the future.
Additionally, Stoltenberg highlighted the need for NATO to enhance its coordination mechanisms to ensure effective delivery of aid and to address any emerging challenges promptly. He emphasized NATO’s commitment to standing by Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression while upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
NATO committed to providing Ukraine with more money for air defenses and artillery
Last April, Stoltenberg addressed the press at NATO headquarters in Brussels following the council meeting, announcing NATO’s commitment to bolstering air defenses and artillery in the embattled nation.
“NATO defense ministers have unanimously agreed to escalate military support, including reinforcing air defense capabilities,” Stoltenberg declared. “We’ve identified existing resources within the alliance that can be deployed to Ukraine, with further announcements on air defense enhancements forthcoming.”
Germany recently affirmed its intent to deliver an additional Patriot system to Ukraine, with Stoltenberg highlighting the availability of other armaments from allied nations. Those without such systems have pledged financial assistance for Ukraine’s procurement efforts. Stoltenberg also noted collaborative efforts with industry to expedite production and refurbishment of military equipment for operational readiness.
Denmark and the Netherlands have stepped forward with fresh commitments, with the latter earmarking an additional four billion euros ($4.29 billion) for military aid. Addressing critical Ukrainian requirements, such as 155 mm artillery ammunition, precision strike capabilities and drones, Stoltenberg affirmed each NATO member’s autonomy in determining their contributions.
Support for Ukraine, Stoltenberg asserted, transcends benevolence, framing it as a strategic investment in NATO’s collective security.
Watch this report from Hindustan Times discussing how a recent ferocious Russian air assault on Ukraine caused NATO to panic.
