NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has campaigned for the delivery of additional anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine. He expects the message from the alliance partners that more needs to be done, said the Norwegian on Tuesday at the start of consultations with the NATO foreign ministers in Bucharest. The aim is to help Ukraine repair destroyed infrastructure such as the electricity and gas networks, but also to build more air defense systems.
In addition, it must be ensured that there is sufficient ammunition and spare parts for the systems supplied. Russia is now attacking civilian targets and cities because it is no longer gaining ground and wants to prevent Ukraine from liberating more areas.
The NATO Secretary General had already made it clear on Friday that the delivery of German Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine would not be taboo for him. Germany had previously offered Poland Patriot-type air defense systems to secure Polish airspace. Warsaw then suggested moving directly to the neighboring country.
The second day of the NATO meeting in Bucharest on Wednesday will focus in particular on dealing with China and relations with the partner countries Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia and Moldova. NATO invited Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba as a guest to a working dinner on Tuesday. The ministers of Sweden and Finland, as confirmed candidate countries, attend all meetings as observers.