chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that the alliance must provide Ukraine with more systematic military support over a longer period, and that Kyiv’s membership of the alliance is a matter of “when, not if.”
He was speaking as the foreign ministers of NATO member states met in Brussels for a two-day summit.
“We need to shift the dynamics of our support,” Stoltenberg said as he arrived at the meeting.
“We must ensure reliable and predictable security assistance to Ukraine for the long haul so that we rely less on voluntary contributions and more on NATO commitments, less on short-term offers and more on multi-year pledges.”
Ukraine support tops agenda
Stoltenberg declined to comment on proposals reported by mulitple diplomats that he has proposed military support for worth €100 billion ($108 billion) over the next five years.
The aim is reportedly to have an aid package finalized in time for a NATO summit which will be held in Washington in July.
A German foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed that the proposals would be discussed over the course of the two-day meeting chaired by Stoltenberg.
The proposals received support from the foreign ministers of NATO members Latvia and Poland, whose countries both share borders with Russian territory.
Latvia’s Krisjanis Karins said the proposed could be funded if allied members committed “a certain percentage of GDP.”
That call was backed by the UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron who said upon arrival at the meeting that it was “vital that Britain and [NATO] get the weapons and support Ukraine needs” by committing “two percent” of GDP.
NATO’s Stoltenberg: Security is global’
Ahead of the meeting, Stoltenberg also looked further afield, saying that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine illustrates that NATO’s security concerns are “global, not regional.”
“Russia’s friends in Asia are vital in [enabling it to] continue its war of aggression,” he said. “China is propping up Russia’s war economy. In return, Moscow is mortgaging its future to Beijing. North Korea and Iran are delivering substantial supplies of weapons and ammunition. In return, Pyongyang and Tehran are receiving Russian technology and supplies that help them advance their missile and nuclear capabilities.
“This has regional and global security consequences. Like-minded nations around the world need to stand together to defend a global order ruled by law and not by force.”
What Donald Trump might mean for support for Ukraine
The push for more aid comes amid that and warnings from Kyiv that ammunition stockpiles are running low.
“Every delay in the provision of support has consequences on the battlefield,” said Stoltenberg.
German news agency DPA cited NATO diplomats as saying they aim to make less dependent on political developments in individual member states and to shift the burden of responsibility among the alliance.
A $60-billion US funding package has been blocked by Republicans in Congress but there are hopes lawmakers could move to pass it in the coming weeks.
Nevertheless, the NATO proposals aim to make the procurement and provision of aid to Ukraine less dependant on the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), also known as the “Ramstein Group,” especially given the possible reelection of former US President Donald Trump.
In February, he threatened to encourage Moscow to attack NATO members who were not meeting their financial obligations.
“If NATO could take over responsibility for support for Ukraine, it could be protected from any domestic issues in any member state – and of course that refers to the major aid package currently being stalled in the US Congress,” explained DW’s Alexandra von Nahmen, reporting from the summit.
Also on the agenda for NATO foreign ministers in Brussels
Ministers are also expected to discuss the race to replace Stoltenberg.
Some had hoped to choose his successor at the talks, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte reportedly having the backing of 90% of members.
However, there is opposition from Hungary and also a .
75 years of NATO
On Thursday there will be a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of NATO’s founding.
The defense alliance was established in 1949 in the aftermath of World War II
mf,kb/rt,ab (dpa, Reuters)
The post Ukraine: NATO membership a question of ‘when, not if’ appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
