“Ukraine can count on us as long as it takes” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the organisation’s summit in Madrid on Wednesday 29 June. During this event, the leaders of the member countries announced a package of measures to support Ukraine in its war effort.
“This includes secure communications, fuel, medical supplies, and body armour, equipment to counter mines and chemical and biological threats and hundreds of portable anti-drone systems”, said Jens Stoltenberg. The 30 NATO leaders pledge to accelerate the delivery of non-lethal defence equipment, improve Ukraine’s cyber defence and support the modernisation of its military capabilities.
In the long term, the Alliance’s stated aim is to support Kyiv in its transition from Soviet-era equipment to modern NATO equipment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the summit via video conference on Wednesday 29 June. He said that he looked forward to meeting them at a future in-person meeting. “This would be a sign of our common victory”, he added.
He also called for additional arms and financial support: “If you really identify Russia as your main threat, you must fully support its main target. [...] It is absolutely necessary to support Ukraine right now with weapons, finances and political sanctions against Russia that will that will stop its ability to pay for the war [...] Ukraine needs modern missiles and air defence, and you have those systems”.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also stressed the need to provide equipment. “This war can only be won on the battlefield”, he said on the second day of the summit on 29 June.
Zelensky welcomed the future extension of NATO to Finland and Sweden, but regretted that his country was still not invited: “NATO’s open door policy should not resemble the old turnstiles of the Kyiv metro: they are open, and when you approach, the turnstiles close until you pay. Has Ukraine not paid enough yet?”
The Alliance’s Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, has repeatedly stated that “NATO’s doors remain open”.
See the Madrid Summit Declaration: https://aeur.eu/f/2fh (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)