Rutte outlines three key areas of NATO support for Ukraine

He made these remarks in Brussels on Tuesday during a joint press statement with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, ahead of the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"First of all, we have to make sure that we help you maintain the energy grid and the energy infrastructure as best as possible. We cannot have a weaponization of winter in Ukraine. This morning, we discussed this also with [U.S. Secretary of State] Tony Blinken, and this is a crucial element. Secondly, we have to make sure that when it comes to air defense, we are doing a lot, but more needs to be done to make sure that the country is as safe as possible when it comes to air defense. And thirdly, when it comes to making sure that the military aid gets into Ukraine, we really have to work on this," Rutte said.

He also praised Ukraine’s leadership and its people for their courageous resistance to Russia’s unprovoked and unacceptable aggression.

"I really want to assure you that Allies are with you. […] Today, not only the U.S., but also Germany, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania and the United Kingdom, have announced new defense packages to get military aid into Ukraine. But much more needs to be done to ensure that you can one day decide whether to move to some form of talks with Russians, that you can do this from a position of strength. That is what we will discuss tonight," Rutte added.

The two-day NATO foreign ministers' meeting, which began in Brussels on December 3, is primarily focused on increasing support for Ukraine and countering hybrid threats from Russia and other authoritarian regimes.

As part of the meeting, the NATO-Ukraine Council convened today, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in attendance.

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