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full screen Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto during a press conference at Saturday’s G7 meeting in Naples. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo/AP/TT
Russia’s war against Ukraine was at the top of the agenda when the defense ministers of the G7 countries met in Naples. In a joint statement, continued “unwavering support” is promised to Ukraine.
“We underline our intention to continue helping Ukraine, including through military support in the short and long term,” said the defense ministers after Saturday’s meeting.
The defense ministers from Italy, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Canada, and the United States further emphasize that they support Ukraine on the country’s “irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership.”
The statement comes as Ukraine prepares for a third winter of war, with a dire situation and losses in the east and fears of reduced military support if Donald Trump wins the US election in November. During a visit to Berlin on Friday, President Joe Biden urged the NATO countries not to back down in their support for Kiev.
At the same time, there is new concern in Ukraine after reports that thousands of soldiers from North Korea are in the process of joining Russia’s invasion war. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said during Friday that they had not succeeded in confirming the information, which comes from South Korean intelligence.