Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary-General, has reiterated that support for Ukraine is not charity, but an investment in the alliance’s security.
This came on the second day of NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels.
NATO foreign ministers are scheduled to meet with their Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.
Thursday, April 4, 2024, also marked NATO’s 75th anniversary.
The Foreign Ministers held a ceremony to mark the day NATO’s founding treaty was signed; April 4, 1949, in Washington.
A bigger celebration is planned when NATO leaders meet in Washington from July 9 to 11, 2024.
Speaking alongside Kuleba, Stoltenberg said that the sides will discuss how to strengthen cooperation and “how we can move you towards membership in NATO.”
The Ministers will also once again discuss how to step up and sustain support for Kyiv, the NATO Chief said, underscoring that they will talk about how to create a more “predictable” framework for support.
Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, wished “happy birthday” to NATO.
Kuleba stated, “I didn’t want to spoil the birthday party for NATO, but I felt compelled to deliver a sobering message on behalf of Ukrainians about the state of Russian air attacks on my country, destroying our energy system, our economy, killing civilians.”
“My main message today will be Patriots,” he said.
Kuleba added, “Saving Ukrainian lives, saving Ukrainian economy, saving Ukrainian cities depends on the availability of Patriots and other air defence systems in Ukraine.”
Kuleba thanked the allies for agreeing to begin identifying Patriot missile battery stocks that could be sent to Ukraine, while stressing that the Patriot “is the only system that effectively intercepts ballistic missiles,” he said.
He added that “providing Patriots depends on allies, they have plenty of them.”
Ukraine To Eventually Become Part Of NATO
Meanwhile, U.S Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said that Ukraine will eventually become a NATO member.
“Ukraine will become a member of NATO. Our purpose at the summit is to help build a bridge to that membership,” Blinken told reporters before meeting with Kuleba.
Blinken asserted that “support for Ukraine, the determination of every country represented here at NATO, remains rock solid.”
“We will do everything we can, allies will do everything that they can, to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to continue to deal with Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, aggression that is getting worse with every passing day.
“The fight that Ukraine has on its hands is not only Ukraine’s fight, it’s everyone’s fight because the aggression being committed by Russia is not only an aggression against Ukraine and its people, it’s an aggression against the very principles that lie at the heart of the international system.”
Antony Blinken
“Ukraine’s fight for freedom is NATO’s fight for a stronger future. And today, Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before,” Ukraine’s mission to NATO posted on X.
Ukraine also wants a seat at NATO’s table, but the alliance works on unanimity and there is no consensus on whether it should join. Most allies oppose membership while war rages on.
For now, NATO promises only that its door is open for Ukraine in the future.
NATO allies cannot agree on whether to arm Ukraine either.
As an organization, the alliance only provides non-lethal support like transport vehicles, fuel, combat rations, medical supplies and demining equipment.
However, many members provide arms and ammunition bilaterally or in groups.
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