NATO Chief Calls on Allies to Continue Supporting Ukraine: Analysis

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called on member countries to continue supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, despite opposition from the United States and some European nations. Stoltenberg made the statement during a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. The US has provided over $40 billion in security aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022, and has pledged ongoing support. However, a proposed $61 billion aid package from the US Congress and a $50 billion package from the European Union are facing delays due to opposition from Hungary. This funding delay suggests a sense of “fatigue” among some NATO members after 21 months of war, according to Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen. Stoltenberg pointed to recent pledges from Germany and the Netherlands as proof of NATO’s commitment to Ukraine. He also noted that while there hasn’t been much movement on the frontline, Ukraine has been able to inflict heavy losses on Russian forces. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, will join the summit to lobby for continued NATO backing and discuss reform plans for Ukraine’s eventual membership in the alliance. Russia has warned Ukraine against joining NATO, claiming that it is the core of its grievances against Ukraine. The war has resulted in the deaths or injuries of over 500,000 troops and at least 10,000 civilians, according to estimates. The ministers at the meeting are also expected to discuss Russia’s actions in the region, including allegations of facilitating the flow of undocumented migrants to Finland. They may also discuss the recent war between Israel and Hamas and the future of Gaza. Stoltenberg also addressed China, stating that while it is not an adversary, its coercive policies impact the security of NATO members. Membership status for Sweden, which has been awaiting approval from Turkey and Hungary for 18 months, is also a topic of discussion. Stoltenberg expressed optimism that the two countries would approve Sweden’s membership bid, but did not provide a timeline. Turkey has called for Sweden to take more action against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a condition for approval. Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and while Finland’s accession has been approved, Sweden’s application is still pending approval from Turkey and Hungary.

Source: Aljazeera news: NATO chief urges allies to ‘stay the course’ in supporting Ukraine