NATO Chief Says ‘Future of Ukraine In the alliance’ (Worthy News Radio)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
KYIV (Worthy News) – The secretary general of NATO has said that Ukraine’s future lies within the Western military alliance despite objections from Russia. Jens Stoltenberg made the remarks during his first visit to the country since Russia’s invasion 14 months ago.
However, Kyiv has expressed concern about military support fatigue among NATO allies. Ukraine’s worries were raised Thursday after a military honor guard in Kyiv welcomed Stoltenberg.
He was quickly shown destroyed Russian military vehicles displayed on a central square in the Ukrainian capital.
It signaled that Ukraine remains determined to withstand Russia’s invasion despite massive losses on both sides in this ongoing war.
Stoltenberg made clear that he hopes Ukraine will become a full NATO member. “Let me be clear: Ukraine’s rightful place is in the Euro-Atlantic family. Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO. And over time, our support will help you to make this possible,” Stoltenberg told reporters during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskt in Kyiv.
He also pledged continued military support for Ukraine, saying that, so far, NATO allies had trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops and provided 65 billion euros(more than $71 billion), in military aid alone.
Stoltenberg also invited Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to an upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius in July.
‘RESTRAINT MEMBERS’
Yet Zelensky told journalists that he urged Stoltenberg to overcome the “restraint” of some member states in supplying modern warplanes, long-range weapons, artillery, and armor.
Neighboring Hungary is among the most vocal NATO countries declining to provide weapons or other military aid to Ukraine.
Zelensky said he also discussed with Stoltenberg an upcoming meeting at Rammstein in Germany for military powers on Friday and how Ukraine could get more aid.
He added that holdups were costing the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
Zelenskiy wants Ukraine to have security guarantees while on the NATO accession path.
However, he stressed he views Stoltenberg’s visit as a sign of the alliance’s openness to “open a new ambitious chapter.”
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