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NATO defence ministers to discuss Ukraine aid in Brussels

17.10.2024 09:30
Poland's Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz travelled to Brussels on Thursday to join his counterparts from other NATO countries for a two-day meeting beginning on Thursday to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine and further Western support for Kyiv.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
Władysław Kosiniak-KamyszP. Chmielewski/PR

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will chair the meeting at the alliance's headquarters in the Belgian capital on Thursday and Friday, according to an announcement.

The ministerial meeting is expected to discuss stepping up support for Ukraine, keeping NATO strong and strengthening partnerships, the alliance said.

Rutte told the media ahead of the gathering that NATO allies need to "move further and faster to meet the growing threats we face.”

He added: ”This requires more forces, capabilities and investment to meet the ambitious targets set by our defence plans.” 

He reaffirmed that NATO "stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine, both now and into the future," according to the alliance's website.

NATO defence ministers will meet with their Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov in the NATO-Ukraine Council on Thursday evening to discuss the battlefield situation and Ukraine’s most urgent needs, the alliance said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to attend the gathering in person, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Poland's Kosiniak-Kamysz is scheduled to take part in a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Lithuania, Latvia, France, Italy, Albania, Luxembourg, as well as Australia's Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy, the Polish defence ministry announced.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

Thursday is day 967 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, nato.intgov.pl