NATO allies to send Ukraine all weapons it needs to prevail - Stoltenberg

That’s according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who spoke at a press conference ahead of the meeting of NATO member states’ defense ministers, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Tonight we will meet with Ukraine, Georgia, Sweden, Finland, and the European Union. This will be an opportunity for Defense Minister Reznikov to update us on what Ukraine urgently needs. And for NATO Allies to make new announcements of support to Ukraine. Allies are committed to continue providing the military equipment that Ukraine needs to prevail, including heavy weapons and long range systems,” Stoltenberg stressed.

He noted that NATO allies and partners had been providing security assistance weapons worth billions of dollars, alongside economic and humanitarian support.

“I expect that at the Summit, NATO Allies will agree a comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine. Helping Ukraine for the longer-term, to transition from Soviet-era equipment to modern NATO equipment, and to improve interoperability with NATO. Allies are unwavering in their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our close partners in Europe. And for the right of each nation to choose its own path, free from outside interference,” the NATO secretary general stressed.

He added that on Thursday, a meeting will be held at the NATO HQ of the Ukraine Support Contact Group, a format established at the Ramstein base several months ago and is aimed to coordinate efforts by NATO allies and partners to provide different types of weapons and military equipment, including heavy weapons, to Ukraine because “they absolutely depend on that to be able to stand up against the brutal Russian invasion.”

On June 28-30, Madrid will host a NATO summit where the latest challenges to European and Euroatlantic security will be discussed, including the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as the ways of further transformation of the alliance. The leaders will adopt a new NATO Strategic Concept.

On June 15, a North Atlantic Council will meet in Brussels at the level of defense chiefs to discuss preparations for the upcoming NATO summit and ways to increase security assistance to Ukraine in its standoff against Russian unprovoked aggression.

Photo: EFA/EPA