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Olha Stefanishyna calls on Allies to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences at NATO-Ukraine Council meeting
28 May 2024 19:35
On 28 May, a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the ambassadorial level was held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels with the participation of Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine. The key topics of the meeting were Ukraine’s security needs, expectations from the NATO Summit in Washington, as well as Ukraine’s institutional development in the framework of the adapted Annual National Programme.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that it was now important to ensure the stability of military support to Ukraine, as delays in the provision of critical weapons made the recent russian offensive possible.
“Our urgent military needs remain unchanged: air defence systems, F-16 combat aircraft, ammunition, long-range artillery, armoured vehicles and other essential items,” Olha Stefanishyna stressed.
The Deputy Prime Minister elaborated on the expectations of the Ukrainian side from the NATO Washington Summit to be held in July. She noted that its decisions should include those aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s air defences.
“The required number of Patriot systems will make our cities safer and enable us to survive the upcoming winter period,” Olha Stefanishyna said.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted the initiative to strengthen NATO’s role in coordinating military assistance and training for Ukraine and outlined the principles important to the Ukrainian side in this regard.
Olha Stefanishyna also informed NATO member states about institutional transformations within the framework of the adapted Annual National Programme, in particular in the areas of anti-corruption and rule of law, and achieving compliance with Alliance standards.
For their part, the Allies expressed their commitment to provide Ukraine with the weapons it needed. They praised Ukraine’s progress in implementing NATO principles and standards and assured that the decisions of the Washington Summit would be a significant step in strengthening military support for Ukraine and bringing it closer to the Alliance, and reaffirmed that Ukraine’s path to NATO membership was irreversible.
During her visit to NATO Headquarters, Olha Stefanishyna met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The two sides discussed NATO’s increased role in providing military assistance and training for Ukraine, as well as expectations for the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington. The results of the NATO-Ukraine Council were further consolidated at a meeting with the Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Boris Ruge.
The Deputy Prime Minister also held a series of meetings with the leadership of the NATO International Staff and the NATO Permanent Representatives.
