I anticipate allies to agree on a crucial package of support for Ukraine," announced NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. Washington is the 75th summit of the North Atlantic Alliance. It was announced that in a fewer months additional Patriot batteries would be sent to Ukraine, among others, by the USA, Germany and Romania. It has been confirmed that F-16s are already on their way to Kiev.
It's the second day of the NATO summit in Washington. The anniversary, organized on the 75th anniversary of the Alliance, is attended by leaders of 32 NATO associate states, as well as representatives of countries cooperating with the Alliance. Poland is represented by president Andrzej Duda, accompanied by Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence and Radosław Sikorski, Head of Polish Diplomacy.
The Secretary-General of the Jens Stoltenberg Alliance at the morning press conference acknowledged that this was a "historic summit", but not due to the NATO Jubilee, but due to the fact that decisions taken in Washington are crucial to the future and the world's safety architecture. "I anticipate allies to agree on a crucial package of assistance for Ukraine, which will include 5 elements," he announced. The first concerns the creation of NATO command for Ukraine in the German Wiesbaden, which is to coordinate military aid and training of soldiers. Further elements, as Stoltenberg said, concern the maintenance of the long-term support of Ukraine, the transfer of anti-aircraft defence systems and the establishment of fresh bilateral safety agreements between NATO and Ukraine allies. “In the end, we will all step up our efforts to guarantee interoperability between Natovian and Ukrainian forces,” Stoltenberg said. In this respect, he emphasized the function of the NATO-Ukraine Analysis, Training and Education Centre located in Bydgoszcz. "These 5 elements are a strong bridge of Ukraine towards membership in NATO," said the Secretary-General of the Alliance. erstwhile Ukraine became a NATO member, journalists asked that it was besides early to indicate the date. "But I am convinced that the allies will confirm their commitment to Ukraine joining the Alliance," said the NATO chief. He returned to the subject a fewer hours later, during the NATO forum. He said that only after the fighting in Ukraine stopped and making certain that Kiev was able to keep the country safe will the accession process be possible.
Jens Stoltenberg besides pointed out that the Alliance is strong and strong, and its members are capable of fulfilling their obligations under the Natov defensive plans. He stressed that 10 years ago only 3 NATO members spent 2% of GDP on defence. This year, the level of 2% or higher reached 23 associate States. It's a immense difference. This means that our allies take safety very seriously – the NATO chief said.
Without doubt, Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, spoke with the most crucial message from the second day of the NATO summit. The politician admitted that "the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine is ongoing". The multi-purpose Kiev aircraft will receive from Denmark and the Netherlands. “These fighters will fly in Ukrainian skies this summertime to guarantee that Ukraine can proceed to successfully defend itself against Russian aggression,” said Blinken. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr store further reinforced this message. He announced that his country would hand over six F-16s to Ukraine, and that the transportation of machinery would start this year. This is another good news for Ukraine, after the US announced that Kiev would receive additional Patriot batteries. Anti-aircraft defence systems will be handed over to Ukraine by the United States, Germany and Romania. The components to the Patriots will besides send the Netherlands east. The Italians, on the another hand, declared that they would hand over the anti-missile SAMP/T system.
– This summit is crucial for strengthening the alliance bond, for showing the full planet that we are together," said president Andrzej Duda during the gathering with journalists. The Polish leader emphasized that NATO is simply a defence alliance, does not attack anyone, but will defend "every man's land of the Alliance, i.e. all country that belongs to the Alliance". He pointed out that the biggest threat to NATO was Russia, which attacked Ukraine 2.5 years ago without any justification. – NATO supports Ukraine in its defence activities. I hope that this Jubilee summit will send a clear signal that Ukraine's way to NATO is irreversible. The decision on membership belongs to Ukrainian society, and no 1 from outside can block it," said Andrzej Duda. He pointed out that the Alliance was building various forms of partnership with Ukraine. As an example, he gave an analysis centre and command in Wiesbaden, Germany. “Strengthening unity, building the Alliance’s defence capabilities in the field of anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence, strengthening the east flank, implementing regional plans and building fresh capacities for cooperation with Ukraine”, said Duda.
Meetings in Washington will proceed until late afternoon. The heads of state and government will then meet for dinner at the White home at the invitation of Joe Biden.
