Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, pledged on Friday, November 25, 2022 that the alliance is determined to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia for “as long as it takes”.
Also, the organization will assist the war stricken country to transform its armed forces into a modern army up to Western standards.
In a speech ahead of NATO foreign ministers meeting in Romania next week, Stoltenberg urged countries, either individually or in groups, to keep providing air defense systems and other weapons to Ukraine.
NATO as an organization does not supply weapons.
“NATO will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. We will not back down. Allies are providing unprecedented military support, and I expect foreign ministers will also agree to step up non-lethal support.”
NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg
Stoltenberg divulged that members of the 30-nation security organization have been delivering fuel, generators, medical supplies, winter equipment and drone jamming devices, but more will be needed as winter closes in, particularly as Russia attacks Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“At our meeting in Bucharest, I will call for more,” he noted. “Over the longer term we will help Ukraine transition from Soviet era equipment to modern NATO standards, doctrine and training,” he added.
The ex-Norwegian Prime Minister, Stoltenberg intimated that Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba would join the ministers to deliberate on his country’s most pressing needs but also what kind of long-term support that NATO can provide.
NATO’s top civilian official expressed that the support will help Ukraine gravitate toward joining the alliance(NATO) one day.
The Nov 29-30 forum in Bucharest is being held almost 15 years after NATO promised that Ukraine and Georgia would one day become members of the organization; a pledge that deeply infuriated Russia.
The Foreign Ministers of Bosnia, Georgia and Moldova will also be in attendance. NATO asserts that these three partners are coming under increasing Russian pressure.
Additionally, Stoltenberg remarked that the meeting would see NATO “take further steps to help them protect their independence, and strengthen their ability to defend themselves.”
Since President Vladimir Putin ordered the Ukraine invasion ten months ago, NATO has reinforced the defenses of allies which are neighbours with Ukraine and Russia.
However, NATO has judiciously sought to avoid being dragged into a wider war with a major nuclear power.
Meanwhile, Stoltenberg placed no pressure on Ukraine to enter peace talks with Russia. Indeed, NATO and European diplomats have stated that Putin does not appear willing to come to the table.
“Most wars end with negotiations but what happens at the negotiating table depends on what happens on the battlefield. Therefore, the best way to increase the chances for a peaceful solution is to support Ukraine.”
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General
British Foreign Secretary In Kyiv, Pledges Air-Defense Package
British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, has arrived in Kyiv for an unannounced visit. He announced that a promised air-defense package, which Britain valued at 50 million pounds ($60 million), would help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s bombardments.
“Words are not enough. Words won’t keep the lights on this winter. Words won’t defend against Russian missiles,” Cleverly tweeted.
The package includes radar and other technology to counter the Iran-supplied exploding drones that Russia has used against Ukrainian targets, especially the power grid.
Cleverly’s visit came a day after the launch of the “Generators of Hope” scheme by European officials. The scheme calls on more than 200 cities across Europe to donate power generators and electricity transformers.
The generators are planned to help keep essential Ukrainian facilities running, providing power to hospitals, schools and water pumping stations, among other infrastructure.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna has disclosed that France is sending 100 high-powered generators to Ukraine to help people get through the coming months.
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