BRUSSELS: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized on Wednesday that alliance members must ensure Ukraine receives adequate arms to continue its counter-offensive against Russia, as Kyiv faces losses in its long-awaited push.
The Western backers of Kyiv will convene on Thursday at NATO headquarters in Brussels to receive the latest update from Ukraine’s defense minister regarding the progress of the ongoing assaults. Stoltenberg, addressing journalists, stated, “The most obvious thing is to ensure they have the weapons, the supplies, the maintenance to continue to conduct the offensive.”
Stoltenberg acknowledged that Ukraine would face casualties as it attempts to breach heavily fortified Russian lines. Stoltenberg added, “There will be casualties, also when it comes to modern NATO equipment. No one expected there to be zero casualties. The realities of this are fierce, fierce fighting.” Stoltenberg reiterated that Ukraine’s offensive was making progress but cautioned that it was still early days and the outcome of the war remained uncertain.
NATO Allies’ Weaponry Supply to Ukraine
NATO allies, led by the United States, have already provided weaponry worth tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine to assist in its defense against Russia since Moscow launched its war in February 2022. These supplies have depleted Western stockpiles, prompting countries to seek replenishments while Ukraine expends thousands of shells each day.
Stoltenberg stated that he expected NATO defense ministers to agree, during a subsequent meeting on Friday, to significantly increase the targets for the amount of ammunition each NATO member must have in stock. Furthermore, NATO is seeking approval for a “defense production action plan” at an upcoming summit in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, aimed at bolstering output in Western defense industries.
The NATO chief revealed that this year, NATO countries have collectively ordered 155-millimeter shells worth $1 billion. This surge in weapons supply occurs alongside the European Union’s plan to provide Ukraine with a million shells and support its defense industry.
