Status: 11/29/2022 1:23 p.m
At a meeting of foreign ministers, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg called for the delivery of additional air defense systems to Ukraine. He also reiterated that Ukraine should eventually become part of NATO.
At a meeting with the foreign ministers of the member states, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called for the delivery of additional air defense systems to Ukraine. He expects the alliance partners to send the message that more needs to be done, said the Norwegian at the start of the consultations in Bucharest.
The aim is to help Ukraine repair destroyed infrastructure such as the electricity and gas networks, but also to build more air defense systems. In addition, it must be ensured that there is sufficient ammunition and spare parts for the systems supplied.
Russia is now attacking civilian targets and cities because it is no longer gaining ground and wants to prevent Ukraine from liberating more areas.
Patriot defense systems to Ukraine?
The Secretary General had already made it clear on Friday that the delivery of German Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine would not be taboo for him.
“The door of NATO is open”
Stoltenberg also confirmed that Ukraine should eventually become part of the Western military alliance: “NATO’s door is open.” Russia has no veto on who should and shouldn’t become a NATO country.
However, he also conceded that the priority now is a win against Russia and not a potentially controversial addition of a new member. “We are in the middle of a war and therefore we should do nothing that might undermine the Allies’ unity to provide military, humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine.”