NATO chief expects further pledges for Ukraine

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday said that he expects allies to offer further support for Ukraine to prepare for the winter fight against Russia.

Stoltenberg was speaking at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the meeting of NATO defense ministers.

“Your fight is our fight, your security is our security, our values are your values,” Stoltenberg said, reaffirming NATO’s backing for Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”

The talks will start with the reunion of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, an alliance of 54 countries that support Ukraine with weapons to fight the war against Russia.

In the afternoon, defense ministers will hold a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council “to strengthen our relationship and help Ukraine move towards NATO membership,” Stoltenberg said.

He said that Russia would use “winter as a weapon” against Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also said that the upcoming winter poses “the biggest challenge” for Ukraine’s defense, adding that the country needs artillery, air defense and ammunition.

Stoltenberg said he expected “NATO allies to make further announcements” after Germany and Romania had recently pledged new aid to Ukraine.

NATO defense ministers will continue their meeting on Thursday. They will assess NATO missions, including the ones in Iraq and Kosovo.

The ministers will also discuss the recent damage on the Baltic Sea gas pipeline.

Stoltenberg underlined that incidents first need to be investigated, but if “it is proven to be a deliberate attack on NATO critical infrastructure” it will bring “serious” consequences, a “united and determined response from NATO.”

On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is also expected to join NATO counterparts via video link to discuss the latest developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

For his part, Zelenskyy compared the situation in Israel to the one Ukraine experienced last February and urged world leaders to travel to Israel and show “big political support for the people.”