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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will ask NATO member countries to send additional air defense systems to Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy said that in the context of expected Russian attacks on the critical infrastructure, the possibility of supplying additional air defense systems by NATO member states was discussed.
“The secretary-general agreed to make his efforts to help, to support us in this matter, to mobilize the member states of the alliance,” he said.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Kyiv where Stoltenberg is visiting Thursday, Stoltenberg said: “Today, your forces are moving forward.” The visit comes as Ukrainian forces continue their counteroffensive against Russia in a bid to reclaim occupied territories.
“They face fierce fighting, but they are gradually gaining ground,” Stoltenberg said.
Stoltenberg added that NATO has secured €2.4 billion of contracts for ammunition aimed at helping allied countries replenish their stocks while assisting Ukraine. These deals, which include €1 billion of firm orders, cover weapons such as anti-tank guided missiles and 155-millimeter artillery, Stoltenberg said standing beside the Ukrainian president.
“Russia is diminished on the world stage, cut off from international markets, staying home from international summits, and reduced to seeking arms from regimes like Iran and North Korea,” he added.
The NATO leader also emphasized Europe’s part in pitching in financially, amid calls from some quarters of the U.S. Republican Party to reduce support. Around half of the nearly €100 billion in military support committed to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion has come from the United States, and the other half has come from European NATO Allies and Canada, Stoltenberg pointed out.
“This is a collective effort by all NATO allies, with equal burden sharing,” he said.
Separately, new United Kingdom Defense Secretary Grant Shapps also met Zelenskyy on Thursday in Kyiv.
“I’ve been back to Kyiv this week to ask President [Zelenskyy] what he needs to win,” Shapps wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Veronika Melkozerova contributed to this report.
