NATO Allies Promise Further Support to Ukraine

NATO defence ministers are meeting today to discuss further support for Ukraine, while Russia appears to have launched a new offensive. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed the United States' determination to stand by Kiev. However, many of the allies, including the United States, are saying no to Ukraine's request for fighter aircraft.

Secretary Austin said the transatlantic military alliance has provided nearly $50 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the start of the war and that military support will continue.

A year later, we're more united than ever before. And this common commitment will help preserve Ukraine's resistance in the coming crucial weeks,” said Mr. Austin at the meeting in Brussels.

Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin was preparing for new offensives, making it even more important that NATO allies and partners offer more support to Ukraine.

But this support is unlikely at the moment to involve fighter aircraft, one of Ukraine's main demands. Ahead of the meeting, Ukraine's Defence Minister Olexiy Reznikov showed reporters a sketch of a fighter plane when asked what military assistance his country is seeking.

“The aircraft issue is no longer urgent now, but it is an ongoing discussion. We have continued consultations among allies on the types of systems that allies should give to Ukraine. The kind of support we offer to Ukraine has changed and evolved over time, and will continue to change and evolve”, Mr. Stoltenberg said.

German Defence Minister also expressed reservations about the supply of fighter aircraft.

I think everyone understands that the air protection issue and the supply of ammunition are much more important at the moment than the discussion of fighter aircraft. Everyone knows that only training to use them lasts several months, not to mention the need to develop skills for the deployment of the” weapons systems, he said.

The United States has told no aircraft for Ukraine. But the UK is weighing such an opportunity. And Dutch Defence Minister Kaysa Olongren said Tuesday that sending jets “should be part of the consideration”.

And we have to debate this with our partners, with the United States. It's something that will take time. And it's better to have this discussion held behind closed doors to see what's possible and what's not possible, what the consequences would be. ”

However, NATO allies and partners are more concerned about Kiev's needs for large quantities of ammunition, as war is entering its second year and the new Russian offensive is in its first stages. / VOA