NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the ambassadors of the Alliance member countries travelled to Kyiv on Wednesday 3 June to hold, for the very first time, a NATO-Ukraine Council in the Ukrainian capital, demonstrating, according to Mark Rutte, “the unbreakable bond between NATO and Ukraine”.
“It is important that this format (of meeting) helps focus our partners’ attention on the main security priorities. What we need most is protection against Russian missiles”, particularly ballistic missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recalled during a press conference with Mark Rutte.
“The Ballistic missiles, which Russia has begun to use increasingly frequently, are objectively much more difficult to shoot down. They are Russia’s last argument in this war (…), and we must find an adequate response to them”, he added, specifying that there was only one single proven tool that works: the US Patriot systems.
Mr Zelensky therefore called for continued funding for PURL, announcing that six countries had announced new contributions at the meeting. According to Mr Rutte, so far, Allies and partners have pledged nearly $6 billion to Ukraine through PURL.
“But the pace of deliveries through PURL and the volume of those deliveries are not sufficient (…). Additional measures are needed”, said Mr Zelensky. He also said that delivery volumes had been restricted since the start of the war in the Middle East.
The Ukrainian President said that Europe had to develop its own anti-ballistic capabilities more quickly. “We all need them and we are already working with certain countries - France, Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Italy - and other partners to strengthen European anti-ballistic capabilities. It is an extremely difficult project, but it is absolutely necessary”, Mr Zelensky argued. He specified that he was discussing licences for Patriot with the US administration so that they could be produced in Ukraine or jointly with the Allies.
The President also announced that he had discussed with the NATO Secretary General ideas that could provide a long-term financial security guarantee for his country. On 20 May, Mr Rutte acknowledged that his proposal for support amounting to 0.25% of each Ally’s GDP had not achieved consensus. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)