He expressed hope that NATO ministers would agree on a security and training plan for Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg believes that NATO's role in assisting Ukraine by combining the joint efforts of member countries using NATO structures and joint funding should be strengthened. And voluntary contributions from individual member countries of the Alliance in support of Ukraine should become a commitment at the NATO level.
Stoltenberg said this at a press conference in Brussels before a two-day meeting of defense ministers of the Alliance member countries, reports “Unian”.
According to him, NATO's role in providing assistance to Ukraine will be strengthened by combining the joint efforts of member countries using NATO structures and joint funding.
“This is one example of how we can have a more robust and prospective structure using NATO, especially when combined with the commitment to spend at least 40 billion euros a year. This will ensure that we have more long-term and prospective support for Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said.
He noted that the Alliance welcomes voluntary contributions to support Ukraine.
“The longer this war goes on, the more important it is that we have more predictability, accountability and fair burden-sharing,” added the Alliance Secretary General.
Previously, allies have made announcements that were not followed through, Stoltenberg stressed, and if there is a NATO role in providing greater transparency and accountability, more allies will stick to what they promise.
In this regard, he recalled that the United States had previously spent six months agreeing on additional assistance for Ukraine, and the promises of some European allies were not fulfilled.
“And if we turn this not into voluntary contributions, but into NATO commitments, then of course it will become more reliable and viable, and for all these reasons I believe that this will help give Ukraine the predictability that it needs.” , Stoltenberg emphasized.
At the same time, he emphasizes that the purpose of all this is to make it possible to end the war.
“Now President Putin believes that he can wait us out, and for this reason the war continues. When we are able to convey very clearly and strongly that we are preparing for the long term, for many years, then probably he will understand that he will not win on the battlefield, but will have to sit down at the table and agree to a long-term peace,” Stoltenberg said.
Recall that in the United States at the NATO summit, which will take place soon, in July, world leaders will discuss the issue of military assistance to Ukraine. According to the Secretary General of the Alliance Jens Stoltenberg, a comprehensive package of measures for Ukraine should be adopted as part of the event.
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