NATO FMs meet for talks in Oslo

Poland's Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau on Thursday joined his NATO counterparts for a meeting in Oslo to discuss further support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion.

Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau.

Photo: EPA/Hanna Johre

Top diplomats from NATO countries gathered in the Norwegian capital to talk about additional security guarantees for Ukraine and the alliance's preparations for its July summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, according to the Polish foreign ministry.

During the meeting, Poland's Rau said that "the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius should be a demonstration of the alliance's strength and its full readiness to defend each member state," according to the Polish foreign ministry.

FM @RauZbigniew attends the meeting of #NATO Foreign Ministers in Oslo 🇳🇴.

During the North Atlantic Council session, FM Rau stressed that the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius should be a demonstration of the Alliance's strength and its full readiness to defend each member state. pic.twitter.com/Ys09cJgN1y

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇵🇱 (@PolandMFA) June 1, 2023

The gathering in Oslo was also expected to focus on plans to strengthen NATO's eastern flank and Sweden's bid to join the alliance as soon as possible, reporters were told.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday he would soon travel to Turkey to discuss Sweden's NATO membership, in an effort to complete a process that has been delayed due to objections from member countries Turkey and Hungary, the Reuters news agency reported.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Thursday is day 463 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters