Rutte expects new NATO aid center for Ukraine to launch by end of year
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine)
The new NATO center in Wiesbaden, Germany, focused on assisting Ukraine, is expected to become fully operational by the end of this year, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reports.
"I expect the new command in Wiesbaden, the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, to be fully operational by the end of this year," Rutte stated.
In addition, the Secretary General mentioned that NATO ministers discussed providing ammunition and air defense systems to Ukraine as Russia intensifies its attacks.
Furthermore, Rutte emphasized that NATO members are working to fulfill their financial commitment of €40 billion in security assistance for Ukraine in 2024.
NATO ministers also discussed measures to counter Russian sabotage and cyberattacks, including increased intelligence sharing, more training, protection of critical infrastructure, cyber defense, and tougher action against Russia's shadow fleet of oil-exporting ships.
Assistance center for Ukraine
The city of Wiesbaden in Germany has become a home to NATO's Security Assistance and Training Command for Ukraine.
As Bloomberg reported earlier, the new NATO command center to coordinate training and security assistance in Ukraine is behind schedule. The NATO Security Assistance and Training Command for Ukraine was supposed to open in Wiesbaden this fall with 700 employees. Instead, the center is still growing, with a staff of several hundred people.
The creation of the center was one of the key commitments made by NATO members at the alliance's summit in July.
