Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg took part in a meeting of the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group. The meeting was chaired by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and it began with a video address by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to a statement issued by the NATO headquarters in Brussels regarding the participation of the NATO Secretary General in the meeting in Ramstein, Germany, on Friday (January 20, 2023). General Secretary Stoltenberg said that Russia does not show any signs of readiness for peace, on the contrary, it is preparing for a protracted war. Therefore, the Secretary General stressed the need to intensify military support, so that Ukraine wins and liberates the occupied territories. "Like most wars, this will likely end at the negotiating table, but what happens in negotiations is directly related to what happens on the battlefield, so we need to deliver more weapons to Ukraine now," Stoltenberg said.

Mr. Stoltenberg thanked Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for leading the United States in providing very significant military assistance to Ukraine. He welcomed recent announcements by other NATO allies and partners, including Germany, France, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden on air defences, infantry fighting vehicles and armored vehicles. He also welcomed the willingness of the United Kingdom, France and Poland to deliver main battle tanks and light tanks and called on Allies and partners to do the same. The Secretary-General also called for continued supplies of ammunition, spare parts and maintenance, as well as training. In general, he stressed that the countries of the Contact Group offer Ukraine a "tremendous package of combat capabilities" for self-defense, and that consultations will continue.

The Secretary-General also emphasized the importance of stepping up non-lethal military assistance, noting that NATO's comprehensive assistance package provides fuel, food, medical supplies, and more to Ukraine.

The Secretary General stressed that NATO allies need to intensify the production of weapons and ammunition, and quickly replenish stocks. He noted that the alliance is working closely with industry to this end, and that procurement will be a major topic when NATO defense ministers meet in February.

While at Ramstein, the Secretary General also met with the Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov and the new German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius.