Rutte: NATO Allies to Do Everything Possible to Provide Ukraine With More Air Defence Equipment
NATO member states promise to do everything possible to provide Ukraine with additional air defence equipment to protect its critical and energy infrastructure this winter. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced this today in Brussels, before the start of the North Atlantic Council meeting at the level of foreign ministers, Ukrinform reports.
‘Last night, we had a business dinner with (EU High Representative) Kaja Kallas from the European Union and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. It was a very good meeting. We discussed what we can do together to ensure that, firstly, Ukraine gets the air defence systems it needs to protect its critical and energy infrastructure, and secondly, how to ensure that Ukraine gets to a position of strength and can then start negotiating its future in the region,’ the NATO Secretary General said.
He noted that Allies will do everything possible to ensure that Ukrainians can withstand this horrific and unprovoked Russian attack and that Ukraine receives the necessary air defence systems.
‘This was discussed last night. As you know, we don't have an excessive supply of air defence systems in the world. This means that you always have to prioritise. But there was a clear agreement around the table last night that assistance to Ukraine, especially in terms of (defence - ed.) infrastructure, should be a priority. I am convinced that over the coming days and weeks, the Allies will consider how to make sure that everything they can deliver to Ukraine is delivered,’ Rutte added.
According to NATO's website, the foreign ministers also met in the NATO-Ukraine Council format with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha and the new EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.
At the meeting, Secretary General Rutte highlighted Ukraine's response to Russian aggression, noting that ‘the situation on the battlefield is difficult and we must do everything we can to provide Ukraine with more military assistance.’
He said that Putin is ‘pushing, trying to grab more territory. Because he thinks he can break Ukraine's resolve and ours. But he is wrong’.
Rutte condemned Russia's recent launch of an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile and said that the use of this weapon ‘will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine’.
The Secretary General said that NATO Allies are increasing military support for Ukraine, a new command will coordinate assistance and training, and a financial commitment of €40 billion is the minimum for this year. He noted that it is now necessary to ensure that military assistance is delivered to Ukraine so that if Ukraine decides to ‘start negotiations with the Russians one day, it will do so from a position of strength’.
The ministers will also discuss Russia's hostile actions against NATO countries, including sabotage, cyberattacks and energy blackmail. Rutte said that ‘none of these actions will deter us from supporting Ukraine or strengthening our own defence’.