Zaluzhnyi doesnʼt go to meeting of NATO Military Committee because of situation at front

Admiral Rob Bauer, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, said this at the opening of the meeting of defense chiefs of the Alliance, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Today's discussion will initially focus on Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia has been in what they thought would be a three-day war for 15 months. Goliath has faltered because David has demonstrated outstanding resilience and tactical excellence, with the support of 50 nations around the world," the admiral said.

"Yesterday I received a letter from the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief, our friend Valeriy Zaluzhny, that his participation, even via video conference, is impossible due to the difficult operational situation in the defense against Russian aggression. Our best wishes are with the Ukrainian defenders. We are focused on getting Valeriy's assessment from his military representative ... on the latest developments on the ground, where Ukrainians are fighting for what is rightfully theirs," Bauer added.

He noted that the members of the Military Committee will hear a presentation from the Military Representative of Ukraine to NATO, Major General Serhiy Salkutsan

Admiral Bauer noted that the Alliance is entering a new era of collective defense.

"We are collectively defending not only the physical security of our billion people and 31 nations, but also the democratic values we all hold dear. The fact that we are able to cooperate, with so many armed forces, with so many different capabilities and cultures, is truly unique in the world," said the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee.

He greeted the Finnish Chief of Defense, who is attending this meeting for the first time as a full member of the Alliance, and expressed hope that he will soon be able to say the same to the Swedish Chief of Defense, who is also attending the meeting of the Military Committee as a representative of the invited country.

The NATO Military Committee is the highest military command and control body of the Alliance, which determines the defense and development needs of the armed forces to ensure the collective defense of the Allies, in pursuance of the political decisions of NATO leaders.