During their meeting in the Belgian capital on Tuesday and Wednesday, top diplomats from NATO countries were expected to talk about "the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the prospects for the allies’ further support for the authorities in Kyiv," according to a statement by the Polish foreign ministry.
"The meeting in Brussels will also focus on the preparation of decisions to be taken by heads of state and government in July this year at the NATO summit in Vilnius," the statement said.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Tuesday morning that the alliance's foreign ministers were meeting "at a pivotal time for our security."
They were set to "address how to sustain and ramp up support from NATO and NATO allies to Ukraine" during a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba as part of the NATO-Ukraine Committee, according to Stoltenberg.
Stoltenberg said he expected allies to start work on developing "a more long-term and multi-year programme to assist and support Ukraine" as Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine grinds on.
The NATO chief told reporters that the aim was to help Ukraine "develop interoperability with NATO allies" and "move from Soviet-era standards, doctrines to NATO standards and then move closer to the Euro-Atlantic family."
'A wide range of different security challenges'
He also said that NATO foreign ministers would on Wednesday "address a wide range of different security challenges, including those emanating from the Middle East and North Africa, including the fight against terrorism."
They will also discuss "how to invest more in defence," according to Stoltenberg.
The Polish foreign ministry said that NATO’s top diplomats would hold talks with "representatives of the European Union and their counterparts from four Asia-Pacific countries."
Stoltenberg said: "We will also meet with our Asia-Pacific partners –New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and South Korea. Security is not regional, security is global. What happens in Europe matters for the Indo-Pacific, for Asia. And what happens in Asia matters for Europe. And the war in Ukraine really demonstrates that with all its global ramifications."
He added: "And also when you see that China and Russia are coming more and more closely, that they stand together, work together, it makes it even more obvious that we need to stand together with our partners in the Indo-Pacific."
Finland becomes 31st member of NATO
Meanwhile, Finland was set to become the 31st member of NATO on Tuesday, to coincide with the alliance's 74th anniversary, amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Stoltenberg told reporters on Tuesday that Finland's accession to NATO was a direct result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking ahead of a ceremony in Brussels to welcome Finland as a member, Stoltenberg said: "Today is a historic day because in a few hours we will welcome Finland as the 31st member of our alliance. This will make Finland safer and NATO stronger."
Polish President Andrzej Duda said in a tweet: "NATO may be 74, but surely it feels 31. Welcome Finland. Ei koskaan enää yksin - never alone again. We are stronger together. Poland hopes for a swift accession of Sweden to NATO."
Sweden’s application to join NATO has been held up by Turkey and Hungary, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Tuesday is day 405 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, nato.int
