NATO Chief Acknowledges Aid Gap, Pledges Support for Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg conveyed to the Ukrainian people on Monday that member states of the alliance had not honoured their commitments of military aid in recent months.
However, he expressed confidence that the flow of arms and ammunition would now be increased. During an unannounced visit to Ukraine, Stoltenberg engaged in discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky and was scheduled to address the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, as reported by Reuters.
This visit marks the third since Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, occurring during a challenging period on the battlefield for Ukraine. Following an unsuccessful Ukrainian counteroffensive last year, Russian forces have seized the initiative, partly due to the shortage of arms and ammunition from Western allies of Kiev.
Stoltenberg emphasised that the United States Congress has recently approved a substantial aid package for Ukraine, exceeding $60 billion, swiftly signed by President Joe Biden. Additionally, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a "record" commitment to Kiev just last week.
Furthermore, Germany has agreed to provide Ukraine with a new Patriot air defence system, and the Netherlands has increased its aid to Kiev. Stoltenberg anticipates further new commitments to follow suit.
He stressed that the Russians have paid "a high price for marginal territorial gains" and highlighted Ukraine's ongoing potential to alter the situation. Urging NATO allies to fulfil their promises promptly, Stoltenberg underscored the critical importance of converting commitments into tangible deliveries of arms and ammunition, expressing confidence that this would now transpire.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
