NATO should deliver urgently what is promised to Ukraine: Alliance chief

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – The already promised military support should be quickly delivered to Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.

On his way to attend the two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Stoltenberg said there is an “urgent need now to deliver what has always been promised to” Ukraine, including ammunition, military equipment, armored vehicles, and battle tanks.

He acknowledged that the nature of NATO support to Ukraine has evolved over time, but said “the issue of aircraft is not the most urgent issue now.”

NATO defense ministers will later in the day hold talks with their Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov.

During the two-day session, the defense chiefs will also discuss plans to ramp up military production and to “strengthen our defense industry to be able to provide the necessary ammunition to Ukraine and also to replenish our own stocks,” Stoltenberg explained.

They are expected to agree on establishing a new virtual network of satellites, to improve, among others NATO’s intelligence capabilities, and navigation communication, and to provide early warning of missile launches.

The ministers will discuss support for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Moldova, and also review plans for strengthening NATO’s defense, including the protection of critical infrastructure.

Asked about the accession process of Finland and Sweden, he stressed he is “confident that both (countries) will be full members, and we are working hard to get both (accession treaties) ratified as soon as possible.”

According to Stoltenberg, the two countries have the “quickest ratification or accession process” in NATO’s history.

Sweden and Finland are “more and more integrating into NATO's military and civilian structures,” and participate in NATO meetings and consultations, he added.

The Nordic countries abandoned their long-standing policies of military nonalignment and applied for membership in the military alliance after Russia launched its war on Ukraine last February.

But NATO-member Türkiye has not yet endorsed their accession, which requires unanimous approval from all existing alliance members.

Turkish officials say the countries, particularly Sweden, have yet to take necessary steps against terrorism.

Talks on the their membership bids stalled after provocative demonstrations and Quran burnings in Stockholm.

Stoltenberg also reassured Türkiye of the 30-member military alliance’s solidarity and support in the wake of the Feb. 6 earthquakes, which have led to widespread destruction besides leaving over 31,000 people dead, asserting that “we are all horrified by the terrible toll caused by the earthquake.”