NATO is preparing long-term support for Ukraine

NATO member countries intend to reaffirm their long-term support for Ukraine during the Alliance’s summit, which will take place on July 7–8 in Turkey. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made this statement during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

According to Rutte, one of the summit’s key decisions will be to reaffirm that Ukraine will continue to receive military assistance from its allies. “The allies will pledge sustained, predictable, and long-term security assistance to Ukraine,” the NATO Secretary General emphasized. He noted that the Alliance also plans to significantly strengthen its own defense industry. This involves expanding the production of weapons and ammunition, launching new production lines, and increasing the pace of military equipment deliveries.

“NATO’s message to the defense industry across the Alliance is clear: be ready, pick up the pace, work together, open new production lines, expand supply chains, and quickly deliver what we need for our security,” Rutte said. The Alliance’s Secretary General emphasized that Russia will remain a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security even after the war against Ukraine ends. That is why NATO countries continue to strengthen their own defenses and support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Rutte also highlighted the role of the United States in supporting Ukraine. According to him, U.S. aid remains crucial, and weapons from the U.S. continue to be supplied to the Ukrainian army with funding from European countries and Canada. “The United States remains indispensable to Ukraine’s defense,” he emphasized. In addition to the Ukrainian issue, the allies plan to discuss other global challenges at the summit. In particular, NATO leaders will review the situation in the Middle East, the security situation in the region, and issues related to Iran’s nuclear program.

A meeting of the Ukraine–NATO Council at the foreign ministers’ level is also scheduled as part of the event. This was announced by Turkey’s Permanent Representative to NATO, Basat Ozturk. The meeting is expected to serve as another platform for discussing further military, political, and security support for Ukraine. The allies are set to agree on next steps that will help strengthen the country’s defense capabilities and ensure stable, long-term support. This was reported by TurkiyeToday.

Russia may have been conducting covert reconnaissance of NATO countries’ nuclear facilities for over a year and a half using drones launched from ships of the so-called “shadow fleet.”