NATO develops new support program for Ukraine
NATO is developing a new support program for Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia. The planned multi-year initiative should help to ensure deterrence and defense, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday evening after deliberations at a foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels. It is also about making the transition from Soviet-era equipment and doctrines to NATO standards and improving interoperability with the Western defense alliance.
According to information from the German Press Agency from alliance circles, there is talk of extending the support program for ten years and providing it with around 500 million euros annually. According to diplomats, the money could also be used to support additional exercises, digitization programs and institutional reforms.
Regarding the current situation in Ukraine, Stoltenberg said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had not changed course. He obviously thinks he can sit out Western support for Ukraine. However, the meeting in Brussels once again underlined the ongoing commitment of the alliance to the country. “NATO will stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary,” said the Norwegian.
In addition to the foreign ministers of the NATO countries, their Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba also attended the meeting on Tuesday afternoon. For the first time in a long time, the group met again as a NATO-Ukraine Commission.