"If there is one lesson from Ukraine it is that we need to support them now," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference, referring to the three countries fearful of Moscow.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks at the end of the alliance's Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bucharest, Romania, on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. Photo: EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT
"They are affected from Russian influence in different ways, but better to support them now rather than see developments that go absolutely in the wrong direction as we saw with the invasion of Ukraine earlier this year," he added.
Stoltenberg told reporters a day earlier that Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina were "facing pressure from Russia" and that the NATO alliance would "take further steps to help them protect their independence, and strengthen their ability to defend themselves."
NATO promises more arms, winter aid to Ukraine
NATO allies on Tuesday promised to deliver more arms and pledged more winter aid for Ukraine in the face of persistent Russian attacks on critical energy infrastructure across the country.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (right) speaks to the media, alongside Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (left), in Bucharest, Romania, on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Photo: EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT
Stoltenberg declared on Tuesday that the Western military alliance "will continue to stand for Ukraine as long as it takes" as the country defends itself against Russia’s invasion.
Speaking at the start of a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Bucharest, Romania, Stoltenberg said: "NATO will continue to stand for Ukraine as long as it takes. We will not back down."
'No peace in Europe unless Ukraine regains sovereignty': Polish FM
Poland's Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau told reporters in Bucharest that "there will be no peace in Europe unless Ukraine regains its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and achieves a conclusive victory in defense of these values."
Poland's top diplomat Zbigniew Rau (right) attends a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Bucharest, Romania. Photo: EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT
Rau on Tuesday "underlined the need to support the Ukrainian energy sector, as well as the necessity to provide help to Ukraine during the upcoming winter," according to the Polish foreign ministry.
During their meeting in the Romanian capital on Tuesday and Wednesday, top diplomats from NATO countries were talked about ways of strengthening NATO’s eastern flank, according to the Polish foreign ministry.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is planning more attacks on his country this week, appealing to defence forces and citizens to be prepared to endure a new wave of air strikes on energy infrastructure amid freezing temperatures.
Zelensky last week urged the United Nations Security Council to act against Russia over air strikes on civilian infrastructure that have led to massive power cuts and deprived residents of heat and water in cities across Ukraine, news agencies have reported.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters in Bucharest on Tuesday that his country needed Western air defence systems and transformers for its energy needs.
Ukraine should be able to strike military sites inside Russia: Latvian FM
Latvia's Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs said in a media interview from Bucharest that the West should provide Ukraine with everything the country needs to defend itself against Russia's invasion, including weapons enabling it to strike military sites inside Russia.
'Solidarity with Poland' after deadly missile incident
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NATO foreign ministers voiced solidarity with Poland after a deadly missile incident near the country's border with Ukraine in mid-November.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, gov.pl