NATO Pledges Support for Ukraine’s Membership Amid Russian Aggression
BRUSSELS — The atmosphere was tense at a conference marking NATO’s 75th anniversary as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made a bold statement: Ukraine will join the alliance. The purpose of the summit in Brussels was clear – to push towards Ukraine’s membership.
Amidst the discussions, Alliance members commended the determination and perseverance of Ukrainians and promised to continue providing aid to the country. However, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated that NATO does not see itself as directly involved in the war.
“We have no intentions of deploying NATO combat troops in Ukraine,” Stoltenberg affirmed. “While Ukrainians are requesting equipment, ammunition, and weapons, we are supplying them. This support does not make NATO allies part of the conflict, but we stand by Ukraine in asserting its right to self-defense.”
NATO’s top diplomats vowed this week to uphold their support for Ukraine as Russian troops with superior firepower continue to exert control on the battlefield.
Facing ammunition shortages, Ukraine has lowered the military conscription age from 27 to 25 to bolster its depleted army ranks. The country is also seeking additional air defenses to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, present at the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, delivered a stark message about the impact of Russian air attacks on his country. “I didn’t want to dampen NATO’s birthday celebrations, but I had to share the harsh reality of Russian aggression causing destruction in Ukraine,” he expressed.
Prior to meeting with Kuleba, Antony Blinken emphasized the unwavering support for Ukraine from all NATO member countries. “We are committed to ensuring that Ukraine receives the necessary assistance to confront Russia’s escalating aggression, which is escalating by the day,” Blinken stated.
On Friday morning, explosions shook Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, yet again, following multiple attacks earlier in the week, including one on Thursday night. — Euronews
