“Ukraine's assistance is not charity”, US and NATO with common fronts in support of Ukraine

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to Washington. The two officials stressed “unmovable support for Ukraine in the fight against Russia and called on American lawmakers to unblock military assistance to give Ukraine the means needed to back Moscow.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that the assistance the United States and its allies in NATO offered Ukraine in the two-year fight against Russia's attack is unprecedented, as is their common front to ensure that Ukraine is prepared to face Russia.

The support the United States has given Ukraine is extraordinary, about $75 billion in the last two years. But our partners and allies, in particular the main NATO allies, have extended over $110 billion over the same period. The burden we have shared in the case of Ukraine, both in terms of military, economic, and humanitarian support, has been remarkable. But to ensure the continuation of this support, that all of us do whatever is necessary to ensure Ukraine's success towards Russia, so that it does not fail strategically, it is necessary for Congress to approve the president's application for additional funds”, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The political stalemate in Congress has frozen American military aid to Ukraine. Mr. Blinken and Mr. Stoltenberg called on Washington to make progress and unlock assistance.

With a small share of the annual military spending, the United States helped Ukraine destroy much of Russia's military capacity, without risking a single American soldier. I welcome President Biden's clear commitment to continuing American support for Ukraine and working with Congress in this direction. As you and the Allies said are contributing,” said the Secretary General NATO Jens Stoltenberg.

Secretary NATO also said China is carefully following how the United States and NATO are responding to the Russian occupation.

I understand that many of our allies are also concerned about China, but this is no argument to be less concerned about Ukraine. Security is not regional, it is global. What happens in Europe matters to Asia, and what happens in Asia affects Europe. Today is Ukraine. Tomorrow could be Taiwan. So it is in our interest to provide them with the weapons and support they need. And I am confident that our allies will do this,” stated Mr. Stoltenberg.

According to Secretary Stoltenberg, the aid for Ukraine is not charity, “but an investment in our safety that is being carefully monitored by Beijing. ”

“We are seeing how China and Russia are increasingly on the same line and how China is helping the Russian economy, including defence production. We're seeing how China is repeating and spreading the same attitude as Russia for war and how China has not condemned the illegal invasion of Ukraine. And we have to remember that a few days before the invasion, China and Russia, the presidents Putin and Xi signed a joint partnership agreement promising each other an unlimited partnership,”, he added.

US Secretary Blinken said that with Finland and Sweden's membership in NATO, the Atlantic Alliance has testified that its door remains open for other members, saying it is convinced Ukraine will become a NATO member. /VOA