Published: Less than 10 min ago
No signs of peace, only more war, is what NATO sees in Ukraine.
But whether it is enough for the military alliance to also start supplying aircraft to Kiev remains to be seen.
“A decisive situation for our alliance” is a phrase that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has used extensively over the past year. And he does it even today, when the defense ministers of the member states gather in Brussels.
– Next week is the first anniversary of this terrible war in Ukraine. We see no signs that (Russia’s) President Putin is preparing for peace – but just the opposite: he is preparing for more war, Stoltenberg told the assembled press corps at NATO headquarters.
Item one on this week’s agenda is a special meeting within the so-called Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine, often called the Ramstein Group after the NATO base in Germany where the first meeting was held.
Stock to fill
Much of that meeting will be about replenishing all kinds of stocks, rather about promising new things.
– It is extremely important that all the weapon systems we have already delivered work as they should. We need ammunition and spare parts. This is a big challenge for the NATO countries, says Stoltenberg.
Whether there will be a discussion about also delivering combat aircraft in the future – as Ukraine wanted – remains to be seen.
– The issue of aircraft is not the most urgent right now. But it is an ongoing discussion. We have constant conversations among the member states about what is needed, says the Secretary General.
Jonson in place
On the Swedish side, Minister of Defense Pål Jonson (M) is participating in both the Ramstein meeting and the NATO meeting, with the special status as “invitee” – future member – that Sweden and Finland have had since this summer.
However, nothing new in the accession process for the two countries is expected during this week’s meeting. And Stoltenberg also does not want to answer the question of whether it might be relevant, for example, to include Finland before Sweden, if Turkey’s resistance to saying yes to Sweden persists.
– The main question is not whether Sweden and Finland are ratified together. The main issue is that they are ratified as full members as soon as possible. I am working hard for it, Stoltenberg promises in Brussels.
Facts
NATO meeting in Brussels
NATO defense ministers are gathering this week for a two-day meeting at headquarters in Brussels.
The meeting begins at 10 a.m. on Tuesday with a special meeting, led by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, within the contact group for the defense of Ukraine – often called the Ramstein group, due to the airbase in Germany where the first meeting was held last year.
The NATO meeting itself is chaired in turn by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and consists of a session on Tuesday evening and one on Wednesday morning, followed by a closing press conference with Stoltenberg at 12:45 on Wednesday.
For Sweden – which participates via its “invitee status” as an invited member – Minister of Defense Pål Jonson (M) participates.
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