Stoltenberg says allies ready to deliver more Patriots missiles to Ukraine

The secretary general of NATO, Jens Stoltenbergstated this Thursday that the allies are willing to reinforce the air defenses of the Ukraineespecially the Patriot anti-missile batteriesfollowing the specific request made today by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmitro Kuleba.

“Allies understand the urgency to accelerate when it comes to air defense, so they will now look at their inventories or whether there is a way to provide more systems, in particular Patriots“, said Stoltenberg in a press conference at the end of a two-day meeting of Alliance foreign ministers.

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At the same time, he stated that we must ensure that air defense systems that are already deployed in Ukraine “They have the ammo and spare parts to function as they should.”.

A Patriot missile system during the German Chancellor’s visit to the military part of Cologne-Wahn airport, western Germany, on October 23, 2023. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER/AFP) (INA FASSBENDER/)

“It’s partly a matter of battery systems, but a lot depends on the delivery of interceptors from existing systems.“He explained.

Stoltenberg assured that several allies have promised that they will “a new effort to find out what they can, see what else they can provide”.

The 32 allied ministers participated today in a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council after attending a ceremony celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Atlantic Alliance.

“I don’t want to ruin the birthday party, but my main message today will be Patriots, because save Ukrainian lives, save the Ukrainian economy, saving Ukrainian cities depends on the capabilities of the Patriots and other air defense systems”, Kuleba told the press upon arriving at the meeting.

“The situation on the battlefield remains serious. Ukraine needs more air defenses, more ammunition and more aid”Stoltenberg emphasized.

Non-residential building damaged in a new Russian attack with two missiles against Kiev, on March 25, 2024. (Photo by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine / EFE) (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/)

The allied secretary general stated that, in recent days, Germany announced almost 600 million euros for the Czech artillery ammunition acquisition initiative, the UK communicated the shipment to Kyiv of 10,000 drones, France will give more missiles and armored vehicles and, Finland will provide a new aid package worth 188 million euros.

“But we have to do even more. And we need to rest our support on an even firmer and more lasting basis“, necessary.

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For this reason, yesterday, Wednesday, allied ministers agreed to move forward in planning a greater role for the NATO in coordinating security assistance and training for Ukraine, work that will continue in the coming weeks.

Stoltenberg indicated that the allies must move forward in these two aspects: the mobilization of urgent aid in the coming days and weeks and the establishment of “a more predictable framework for long-term support” what “do not depend on voluntary “ad hoc” announcements, but on more predictable commitments”.

In this way, the allies entrusted the supreme commander of the Alliance for Europe (SACEUR), the American general Christopher G. Cavolistart planning this structure, which “could be reinforced with financial commitments”.

Stoltenberg proposed the creation of a fund of 100 billion euros over five years for Ukraine so that support has a long-term trajectory, at a time when the Republican’s return to the White House in November is possible. donald trumpwho has already said he would cut aid to Kiev.

“Russia It is mobilizing more troops, but it is also willing to sacrifice men and materials for marginal gains. This is serious and this is exactly why it is urgent to mobilize more support for Ukraine”, argued the Norwegian politician.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the 344th Army Aviation Center for Combat Training and Aircrew Transition in Torzhok, Tver Region, March 27, 2024. (Photo by Mikhail METZEL/POOL/AFP) (MIKHAIL METZEL/)

He warned that there are fundamentally two possible scenarios: that the allies manage to mobilize more support and that Ukraine manages to recover more territory, or “that we are not able to do this”.

“And then there is a real risk that Russia will capture even more territory and that we will find ourselves in an even more dangerous position”, he highlighted.

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In his opinion, if the NATO allies comply, he was convinced that Ukraine will be able to make further advances and therefore “we must thoroughly research and provide more military support”And launch“stronger and more solid structures in the long term”.

Stoltenberg also insisted once again that they have no “there are no plans to have combat troops inside Ukraine, there has been no request for this”.

The fact that his allies provide him with weapons to defend himself”This does not make us part of the conflict” he added.

Source: Elcomercio