BRUSSELS (AP) – NATO defense ministers will attend a two -day meeting starting Wednesday to discuss arms supplies to Ukraine and Sweden and Finland’s attempt to join the transatlantic military alliance, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. .
The meeting, which took place two weeks before the summit of NATO leaders in Madrid, took place after Kiev asked the West to send heavier and heavier weapons to help. To prevent Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine.
“The Allies are ready to continue providing the military equipment that Ukraine needs, including heavy weapons and remote systems,” Stoltenberg said.
He added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be invited to speak at the Madrid summit on June 29 and 30, either in person or by videoconference.
The surge in arms supplies may not come anytime soon as Ukrainian forces struggle to prevent Russia from taking more control over their country’s industrial east. War 3.5 months.
Addressing the country overnight, Zelensky called on Tuesday for faster delivery of Western weapons, specifically calling for anti-missile defense systems.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will host a meeting with up to 50 NATO members in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss arms supplies to Ukraine.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Tuesday that troops from the invading country had received only 10 percent of Western weapons, which they had requested “to create equality in the Russian army.”
“No matter how hard Ukraine tries, no matter how professional our military is, without the help of Western partners we will not be able to win this war,” Maliar said in a televised press conference.
He said Ukraine uses between 5,000 and 6,000 pieces of artillery per day, while Russia uses 10 times more.
The NATO meeting will open on Wednesday night with a working dinner, where ministers will talk with their counterparts from Ukraine, as well as Georgia, Sweden, Finland and the European Union.
“This is an opportunity for Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov to provide us with information on what Ukraine urgently needs.” And NATO allies must make new statements in support of Ukraine, “he said. by Stoltenberg.
A meeting of defense ministers is also scheduled this week to discuss measures to strengthen forces in the eastern part of NATO and elsewhere, which have grown since Russia invaded Ukraine.
“It means more presence, more capability and more readiness, more NATO-led combat formations to strengthen our combat groups in the east, more air, naval and cyber defense, pre-deployed equipment and arms stocks, ”Stoltenberg said.
It does not comply with the terms of Sweden and Finland’s participation in NATO. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is blocking membership because he accuses Scandinavian countries of supporting Kurdish militants who are considered terrorists by Turkey.
“My goal is to solve this problem as soon as possible, but since we have several countries involved in this process, there is no way I can tell you exactly when we will solve it,” Stoltenberg said.
“It will take longer than we initially expected due to Turkey’s concerns,” he said.
Erdogan indicated on Wednesday that he would not back down.
“We will not really change our position until Sweden and Finland take clear, concrete and firm measures in the fight against terrorism,” Erdogan told ruling party lawmakers.
All 30 NATO members must agree to accept new members.
UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said on Wednesday at a meeting in Oslo that the ambition of the NATO summit in Madrid would ensure that “Sweden and Finland will take the next step towards NATO membership.”
“I think it’s very important to listen and understand Turkey’s concerns and work in a position where Turkey will support membership, and in fact we can alleviate any of these concerns,” Wallace said.
He added that the West should do more to support Ukrainians who are fighting for better equipment than the Russians.
“Ukraine’s forces are in the east of the country, some have been on the front lines for 90 days. They have been exhausted.” The number of artillery is often exceeded at very high speeds, “he said.
Ian M. Olsen contributed in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Susan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey.
Source: Huffpost
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