Zelenski asks NATO for winter help

2023-10-11 14:50:15, Kosova & Bota CNA

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has made a surprise trip to Brussels for political talks. There he participates in a meeting of NATO defense ministers. Zelenski was received by the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, while a meeting is also planned with the head of the Belgian government, Alexander De Croo.

This is Zelenskiy's second visit to Brussels since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine. He participated for the last time in a meeting with the heads of state and government of the EU on February 9 of this year and addressed the MEPs.

Ukraine's allies discuss winter aid

Politicians and military representatives from around 50 countries gather at the start of the two-day meeting of defense ministers. The consultations, in the so-called Ramstein format, are chaired by the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin. Afterwards, the NATO-Ukraine Council will meet for the first time at the level of Defense Ministers. The central theme will be support for Ukraine, especially during the coming winter months.

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said he expected some allies to announce more support. "What we see now is that President Putin is once again preparing to use winter as a weapon of war. That is, to attack the energy system, the gas infrastructure," the Norwegian said.

Zelenski asks NATO for winter help

Zelenski emphasized that Ukraine is now preparing for winter and for this the support of NATO members is essential. "How we get through next winter is very important to us," he said, "that's why I'm here today." He said these were very specific things in very specific geographic locations. Air defense systems are particularly important, he said.

Before the meetings, the German government had already promised Ukraine a comprehensive package of air defense systems, tanks and ammunition to help it get through the winter militarily.

Belgium wants to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

As part of the talks in Brussels, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced that her country will supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets in the future. Belgium intends to send such aircraft to Ukraine starting in 2025, the year in which it will also receive the new F-35 models. It will also be responsible for important maintenance and inspection. The Defense Minister did not specify how many aircraft Belgium plans to deliver.

So far, other partners, such as the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway, have promised Ukraine more than 50 aircraft for the defensive war against Russia. Several countries are involved in the training of Ukrainian pilots./ DW