Monitoring Desk
BRUSSELS: NATO and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday vowed to bolster their backing for Ukraine to fight off Russia’s invasion and ramp up cooperation between Europe and the US-led alliance.
Longstanding designs by NATO and the EU to forge greater cooperation have gained impetus from the West’s support of Ukraine.
“We must continue strengthening the partnership between NATO and EU. And we need to further strengthen our support to Ukraine for self-defence,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said. He said this after signing a joint declaration with the European Union’s top officials.
NATO, European Union supplying weapons to Ukraine
Countries in the EU and NATO — which share 21 members — have funnelled billions of dollars of arms to Ukraine that have helped it push back Russian forces.
France, the United States, and Germany have announced they will now also supply Ukraine with armoured fighting vehicles — however, Kyiv has also pleaded for modern heavy tanks.
“I think Ukraine should get all the necessary military equipment they need, and they can handle to defend the homeland,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
“This means advanced air defence systems, but other advanced military equipment, as long as it is necessary to defend Ukraine.”
Stoltenberg said Kyiv’s Western backers would meet next week with Ukraine’s defence minister “to discuss exactly what weapons are needed and how allies can provide those weapons.”
“This is not only regarding adding more systems, more weapons, more platforms, but also ensuring that the platforms, the weapons we have already supplied, are working as they should,” the NATO chief said.
Moscow’s attack on Ukrainian territories has upended the European security order and spurred calls for NATO and the EU to work more closely together to protect the continent.
