NATO defense ministers met in Brussels on Thursday to discuss a long-term security assistance and military training plan for Ukraine. The meeting took place at NATO headquarters, marking the last high-level talks before a summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden from July 9-11 in Washington, where leaders are expected to announce financial support for Ukraine. Hungary agreed not to veto the plan provided it is not mandated to participate.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the meeting. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the need for Ukraine’s armed forces to have predictability in terms of weapons, ammunition, and funds to avoid gaps and delays. He noted that the hold-up in support has allowed Russian troops to advance along the front line.
The plan discussed in Brussels aims for NATO’s 32-member alliance to coordinate security assistance and training for Ukraine, utilizing NATO’s command structure and common budget funds. Stoltenberg estimates the annual support level required to be around 40 billion euros.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that Hungary will not veto the plan as long as participation remains voluntary. NATO, as an organization, does not send weapons or troops to Ukraine but facilitates bilateral support among member nations.
Additionally, U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are set to sign a 10-year bilateral security agreement at the upcoming G7 summit in Italy. This agreement does not guarantee U.S. defense for Ukraine but could facilitate peace negotiations with Russia, reflecting the support levels similar to those provided to Israel. The agreement is intended to send a message of continued U.S. commitment to Ukraine.
On Wednesday, the U.S. announced a new sanctions package aimed at closing loopholes used by financial institutions trading with Russia, reinforcing its stance against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.