Energy, air defense, and military aid: NATO’s focus areas for supporting Ukraine
Photo: Mark Rutte (Getty Images)
Allied countries must increase their support for Ukraine. This should be assistance in restoring three areas, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated this before the start of the Ukraine-NATO Council meeting.
According to him, the first priority is to help Ukraine restore its energy grids and energy infrastructure as effectively as possible.
"We cannot have a weaponization of winter in Ukraine. And this morning, we discussed this also with Tony Blinken and others - this is a crucial element," said Rutte.
The second area is ensuring reliable air defense in Ukraine.
"We are doing a lot, but more needs to be done to make sure that the country is as safe as possible when it comes to air defense. And thirdly, when it comes to making sure that the military aid gets into Ukraine, we really have to work on this," Rutte emphasized.
Prospects of Ukraine's NATO membership
Ukraine views NATO membership as the most reliable way to guarantee its security; however, some countries, including Hungary, oppose its accession. In November, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly called for accelerating this process, but the Alliance has not set specific timelines or issued an official invitation.
President Zelenskyy believes that Ukraine's accession to NATO will halt the active phase of the war. Meanwhile, the Alliance emphasizes the irreversible course of Ukraine toward membership, and further decisions will largely depend on the position of the United States.
