NATO Secretary General Emphasizes Continued Military Support for Ukraine; Kyiv Needs 'Predictability and Accountability' from NATO Members

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stated on Thursday that Western countries must ensure that there is no repeat of interruptions in military aid to Ukraine. During a press conference in Finland alongside President Alexander Stubb, he mentioned that Kyiv requires 'predictability and accountability' from NATO members regarding military support. Stoltenberg pointed out recent delays and interruptions in military assistance to Ukraine, stating, 'We must ensure that this [issue] does not happen again.' He added that there is currently no imminent threat against any NATO member and that the alliance has no plans to send troops to Ukraine. President Stubb also expressed happiness about the meeting of NATO members, stating, 'Continuous support for Ukraine and strengthening NATO's deterrence and defense remains vital.' According to Stubb, 'Finland is an active, constructive, and reliable ally.' Many analysts believe that Putin's invasion of the western neighbor, aimed at weakening NATO, has had the opposite effect, with Sweden and Finland joining the defense alliance and increasing military budgets among member countries, thereby strengthening it. In this context, the U.S. and its allies have provided extensive military assistance to Ukraine and imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russian officials and entities involved in this military aggression. Stoltenberg's and Stubb's emphasis on continued defense of Ukraine comes as a peace conference is set to take place in Switzerland on Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17, with representatives from nearly 100 countries and international organizations from around the world to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Kamala Harris, U.S. Vice President, and Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor, will represent the United States at the peace conference in Switzerland. The White House announced on Monday that Harris will emphasize America's commitment to supporting Ukraine's efforts to achieve a fair and lasting peace based on the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the principles of the United Nations Charter. According to the statement, Kamala Harris will also reiterate that the U.S. stands with the people of Ukraine against Russian aggression.