Stoltenberg confirms meeting of EU, NATO and Ukraine
NATO allies and EU countries should avoid creating new barriers in the defense industry and solve the task of increasing the production of weapons and ammunition both for their own needs and for continued assistance to Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this today in Brussels after arriving to participate in an informal lunch within the framework of the EU Council of Ministers on Foreign Relations (on defense issues), Ukrinform reports.
"We need to avoid creating new barriers between NATO allies. Instead, we need to strengthen the transatlantic industrial base to ensure the ability to replenish our stocks in the interests of flow and defense and continue supporting Ukraine. To do this, we need to increase the production of weapons and munitions, and it is precisely these issues regarding the strengthening of our transatlantic industrial base that I will discuss with EU defense ministers," the NATO leader said.
He welcomed the EU's efforts in this direction and, at the same time, emphasized the vital role of NATO since it is the Alliance that determines the standards of weapons, and ensures the interoperability and interchangeability of the forces involved.
Furthermore, the Alliance has issued guidance on the realization of certain defensive capabilities for each allied nation. It is assessing these capabilities, including in regard to the availability of 155 mm artillery shells – an essential component in Ukraine's resistance efforts against Russia's offensive campaign.
The NATO Secretary General recalled that a few months ago, he held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, and EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, to coordinate joint actions on the production of ammunition.
He separately emphasized that it is not only about supplying Ukraine with new samples and platforms of modern weapons but also ensuring that the military equipment already delivered to Ukraine works with maximum efficiency.
This, in turn, requires the provision of fuel, ammunition, as well as maintenance and repair.
"This is a war of attrition that is turning into a war of logistics. That is why ramping up munitions production is an absolutely key issue. I have invited representatives of the defense industry from both sides of the Atlantic to our meeting of NATO defense ministers next month. The EU and Ukraine are also invited to participate in this event, which aims to ensure the greatest possible interaction with the defense industry," Stoltenberg said.
He noted that NATO already has a system for joint ordering, when the Allies purchase ammunition and weapons together for many years, and the Allies are ready to share this experience.
For reference:
On May 23, the EU Council of Ministers on Foreign Relations meeting continues in Brussels with the participation of defense ministers.
On the initiative of the Swedish Presidency of the EU, during the meeting of ministers, an informal working lunch was organized with the participation of the Secretary-General of NATO, which was entirely dedicated to cooperation between the European Union and NATO.
It should be noted that a meeting of defense ministers under the "Ramstein" format will be convened shortly, where one of the primary topics of discussion will be the augmentation of air defense equipment in Ukraine.
