BRUSSELS — With Russia attacking a strategically important city in eastern Ukraine, NATO defense ministers will meet on Tuesday as Ukraine’s allies try to meet Kiev’s pressing battlefield needs.
The ministers will discuss allied efforts to increase the supply of ammunition to the Ukrainian army, both artillery and tanks, as Russia continues to make great achievements – especially around the eastern city of Bakhmut is fiercely contested.
In his opening remarks Tuesday, Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, said the meeting came at a “critical time for our security,” a week ago. celebration of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials have said that they are in dire need of more Soviet-caliber ammunition for the T-72 tanks they already possess in large numbers, as well as NATO-caliber ammunition to work with the guns of this class. provided by allies.
“The war in Ukraine is consuming huge amounts of ammunition and depleting allied stockpiles,” Stoltenberg told the meeting. “Ukraine’s current ammunition spending rate is many times higher than our current production rate. This puts our defense industries under strain.”
The wait time to secure the new large-caliber ammunition, he said, has increased from 12 months to 28 months, even if contracts are signed immediately, even as NATO countries try to ramp up production.
The two-day meeting and Tuesday’s meeting with the US-led Ukraine Defense Liaison Group, the larger group of nations that support Ukraine militarily and financially, are part of a series of meetings. diplomatic meeting this week.
“This contact group has made it clear that we will support Ukraine’s fight for freedom for a long time and help Ukraine hold and move forward in its spring counterattack,” said Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said Tuesday, referring to the long fight. expect new impetus of Ukrainian forces upon war Entering a new phase.
Mr. Stoltenberg said on Monday that Western fighter jets were on Ukraine’s list of requests – a topic that would certainly be discussed, even if approval of their supply, let alone supply them. offering them, seems far-fetched.
President Biden said last month he was unwilling to provide the US with F-16s. And while Britain has said it is ready to start training Ukrainian pilots, it will not be able to supply Typhoon or Tornado fighters on its own.
Both planes are joint projects with Italy, Spain and Germany, and export to Ukraine would require other countries to sign on. Like Mr. Biden, German chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he opposes supplying fighter jets to Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials have stepped up calls for military aircraft after receiving promises of main battle tanks from Western allies last month. Ukrainian troops were in Britain, Germany and Poland learning how to use the British Challenger and German Leopard tanks that the NATO allies had agreed to begin supplying, but they were unlikely to reach the front lines until end of March. German officials have said.
“Clearly we are in a logistical race,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. “Key capabilities such as ammunition, fuel and spare parts must reach Ukraine before Russia can take the initiative on the battlefield. Speed saves lives.”
Julianne Smith, the US ambassador to NATO, said the alliance is looking to work “hands-on” with industry to increase output and cut production times. “This is absolutely necessary to ensure that we can continue to support Ukraine while at the same time ensuring that we can jointly defend every inch of our ally’s territory,” she said.
Stoltenberg said NATO defense ministers would consider how to increase support for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Moldova, “three important NATO partners facing threats from Russia.”
Ministers will also discuss preparations and goals for the coalition summit in July, when the coalition will grapple with the replacement of Mr Stoltenberg, whose term expires at the end of September. Mr. Stoltenberg made it clear through his spokesperson, Oana Lungescu, that after nearly nine years in the job, he won’t look for another extension.
NATO ministers will wrap up their meeting on Wednesday, the day before the Munich Security Conference, a three-day meeting of leaders, diplomats and business leaders where the fighting is in Ukraine will again be a major theme.
Matthew Mpoke Bigg contribution report.
