NATO countries to boost support for Ukraine

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) - NATO foreign ministers agreed Thursday to increase humanitarian and financial aid to Ukraine amid its war with Russia, and security assistance to Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The alliance is determined “to help the brave Ukrainians defend their homes and their country and push back the invading forces,” Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a news conference after a two-day meeting of NATO’s top diplomats.

Stoltenberg said the “senseless war” must end, but warned that instead of a “rational retreat" NATO sees a “regrouping and repositioning” of Russian forces moving out from northern Ukraine to the east.

“We expect a big battle in Donbas,” he said, stressing the urgency of NATO’s assistance to Ukraine.

NATO countries will increase humanitarian aid and financial support and provide cyber security assistance and protective equipment to Ukraine to protect against chemical and biological threats, he said.

The ministers also agreed to support Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Stoltenberg said NATO could help Georgia in areas of situational awareness, secure communications, and cyber defense, while it could also develop a new defense capacity-building package for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Allies utterly condemned the horrific murders of civilians we have seen in Bucha and other places recently liberated from Russian control,” said Stoltenberg.

He said “all the facts must be established, all those responsible for these atrocities must be brought to justice,” adding that the alliance back efforts for an international investigation.

He reiterated that NATO’s main responsibility is to defend all allies and prevent the conflict from escalating beyond Ukraine’s borders.

Stoltenberg also said the conflict will have “long-term effects” on NATO’s security and the alliance must adapt to the new reality.

Ukrainian authorities alleged April 1 that Russian forces killed more than 300 civilians in Bucha.

But Russia has repeatedly claimed the accusations were a "fake news attack," and photographs that sparked a global outcry were produced after its troops departed from Bucha.