NATO boosts support for Ukraine after hearing Zelensky’s plan

Brussels (EFE).- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said this Friday that the alliance is “significantly” increasing its support for Ukraine, after hearing directly from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky his “victory plan” against Russian aggression. One day later.

“We are significantly increasing our support for Ukraine so that it can, one, defend itself against Russian aggression today, and second, against Russian threats in the future,” Rutte said in a speech on the second and final day of the allies’ meeting. Can stop it.” Defense Ministers were held in Brussels.

On Thursday night, ministers held a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting in the presence of Zelensky and his Defense Minister Rustam Umirov.

The Ukrainian president detailed his plan, which calls for doubling pressure on Moscow and immediately eliminating more weapons and red lines on their use inside Russian territory to force the Kremlin to negotiate , while the allies have been offered long-term options for the direct benefits of their alliance. With Kiev in both economic and security spheres.

NATO and Ukraine

Along with these military requests, the “Victory Plan” calls for Ukraine to receive a firm invitation to join NATO immediately after the war ends.

Yesterday, various allied ministers expressed caution about Ukraine’s urgency to join NATO, but they cut ties with Kiev so that it could become part of the alliance in the future.

“Ukraine is a democracy, there are 32 associate democracies, so there are debates in all of them, but there is complete unity because it revolves around our values, our collective security,” Rutte said at a press conference late Thursday. Is.” ,

Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair, arriving at the meeting today, said NATO allies had a “very good conversation” with Zelensky yesterday, in which they identified “some points” of the “victory plan.”

“Their defense minister, Rustam Umirov, stopped by after the president left and shared with us the situation they are dealing with. He commented, “I think that President Zelensky’s recommendation for a peace plan was given significant consideration.”

He assured that, “without a doubt,” there is a debate among the allies on how they can best support Ukraine and “how they can collectively define a path forward for its accession to NATO.” Can.”

“Collectively more committed than ever before”

He also stressed that all allies remain “collectively more committed than ever” to supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

“We will continue to do more to support Ukrainians in their courageous struggle,” he said.

For his part, the Greek Deputy Defense Minister, Giannis Kefalogiannis, indicated that Zelensky addressed allies to “continue to help him and his country to maintain the integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.”

“This is a unanimous decision of all our ministers,” he said.

He said that with Umirov he discussed “details of possible future assistance” and said he believed all NATO defense ministers agreed to continue assistance to Kiev “as long as necessary.”

today’s work session

Rutte today also noted the fact that the allies are building on “historic decisions” taken by NATO leaders at the Washington summit in July to “further strengthen our deterrence and defence, to do so to invest in appropriate forces and capabilities.” Face the challenges before us.”

Today’s working session of ministers will focus specifically on how to improve the alliance’s deterrence and defence.
The Dutch politician also said NATO is increasing its defense industrial capacity and production across the alliance while working to protect vital supply chains.

“And we will continue to promote stability and security beyond our borders, through NATO missions and operations, from KFOR (in Kosovo) to the NATO mission in Iraq,” he concluded.