NATO Military Committee Chair Meets President Zelenskyy During First Visit to Ukraine, Says Supporting Kyiv is in the Alliance’s Interest

The newly appointed Chairman of NATO's Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, paid his first foreign visit to Ukraine on 7 February, Ukrinform reports.  

In his address, Dragone stressed that Ukraine remains one of NATO's top priorities at this important time.  

Speaking about support for Ukraine, he mentioned the decision to provide €40 billion in security assistance made at the Washington Summit and noted that the Alliance is actively working to fulfil this promise.  

The Admiral also highlighted the establishment of the NATO Special Security Assistance and Training Mission for Ukraine and the NATO-Ukraine Joint Training and Analysis Centre. He emphasised the importance of these initiatives, as well as the establishment of the first-ever joint NATO-Ukraine Centre (JATEC) to analyse the lessons of Russia's war.  

‘These lessons will help us to form an understanding of the war. They will be woven into NATO's strategy and policy and contribute to interoperability. Above all, they support Ukraine in achieving victory in the war and preserving its sovereignty,’ said the Chairman of the Military Committee.  

He stressed that assistance to Ukraine remains important in both the short and long term: ‘It is in the Alliance's political and military interest to support Ukraine not only now but also in the future. You are fighting not only for your nation. You are fighting for your identity. And NATO stands with you. Our support for your sovereignty and territorial integrity will remain unwavering.’  

Dragone also condemned Russia's actions in this unprovoked war, including the siege of Mariupol, the shootings and torture in Bucha, and the destruction of Irpin, and stressed that every missile fired at Ukrainian cities is a crime against humanity.

During his visit, Dragone met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Together at one of Ukraine's defence industry enterprises, they got acquainted with the capacities and characteristics of Ukrainian long-range weapons. 

‘Preparations for the next meeting of Ramstein, continued military assistance from NATO Allies and direct investment in the domestic production of long-range drones are the main topics of our meeting. I am grateful to Giuseppe Cavo Dragone for his first foreign visit in this position to Ukraine. I thank the people who work on our long-range weapons for the real result, which helps us a lot, which the Russians are very afraid of and which our NATO partners see,’ Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook.