Stoltenberg announces two topics important for Ukraine at NATO summit in July

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this at the Ramstein Air Base prior to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“At the Ukraine Contact Group led by United States, we will discuss how to sustain and step up our support for Ukraine. I just came back from Kyiv yesterday night and I met with President Zelenskyy, and his message was that he really appreciate and welcomes the strong support NATO Allies and partners have provided for Ukraine, but also counts on us to continue to support Ukraine in the future,” said Stoltenberg.

“My message to him was that NATO has stood by Ukraine for a long time. We continue to stand by Ukraine as they continue to repel the Russian aggression against their country. And we will stand by Ukraine in the future to help to build a better and brighter future for the Ukrainian people,” the NATO Secretary General said.

He also said that he discussed with President Zelensky the preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius in July.

“I have invited him (Zelensky – ed.) to attend the meeting and I'm glad that he has accepted the invitation and will attend the NATO Summit in Vilnius,” the NATO chief said.

He noted that at the summit in Vilnius, there will be at least two issues that will be important for Ukraine.

As expected, NATO Allies at the summit will recommit their support for Ukraine for as long as it takes with substantial military support to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent nation in Europe.

“I also expect NATO Allies to agree a multi-year program to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era equipment, standards, doctrines, to NATO standards and doctrines, and to ensure full interoperability between Ukrainian forces and NATO forces,” Stoltenberg added.

As reported, another meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format is taking place today in Germany, which gathers representatives from more than 50 countries, including NATO Allies and partner countries. This contact group is the main platform for coordinating all military capabilities that NATO Allies and the international community provide to Ukraine to defend against the Russian aggression, in accordance with the right to self-defense, as enshrined in the UN Charter.