Ambassadors from Ukraine and NATO member states will convene in Brussels next Wednesday at the request of Kyiv. This meeting follows recent Russian missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian civilians, as announced by a NATO spokesperson.
This meeting, taking the form of the newly established NATO-Ukraine Council, was decided upon by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following a request from Kyiv. The Ukrainian government is seeking additional air defenses after the recent Russian strikes.
The NATO spokesperson added that NATO countries have already supplied Ukraine with significant amounts of air defense systems and remain committed to continually strengthening Ukrainian defense capabilities.
In recent days, Russia has launched one of its largest missile and drone attacks against Ukraine since the invasion of the country on February 24, 2022.
In response to these attacks, Kyiv is calling for more air defenses, missiles, and drones from its Western allies. However, there has been difficulty in responding to these requests.
Military aid from the United States remains restricted by the U.S. Congress, primarily due to reluctance from Republican lawmakers.
NATO’s support for Ukraine has been multifaceted and substantial, especially since the Russian invasion in 2022. NATO countries, along with other allies, have coordinated their military aid to Ukraine through monthly meetings in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. As of February 2023, the coalition comprised 54 countries, including all 30 member states of NATO and 24 other countries. This collaboration represents a significant international effort to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
The United States has been a major contributor, pledging about $45 billion in arms and military aid to Ukraine since Russia’s massive invasion in February 2022. This assistance includes a variety of military equipment and financial aid. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has emphasized the alliance’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, including discussions on providing advanced defense systems like Patriot air defense units. However, he also noted the challenges in ensuring these systems are effective, well-maintained, and adequately supplied with ammunition.
In addition to the U.S., other countries have also made substantial contributions. For instance, Australia’s military support to Ukraine was worth about AU$730 million as of December 2023, including armoured personnel carriers, mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles, towed artillery, and ammunition.
NATO’s support goes beyond military aid; it also includes efforts to enhance Ukraine’s capacity to withstand the challenges of war, including repairing energy infrastructure heavily damaged by Russian bombardments. For example, the United States announced a $53 million package to buy power grid equipment for Ukraine to help the country persevere through the winter.
