The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, stated that the alliance’s support for Ukraine is a top priority and will remain strong.
He made the remarks on Thursday in Brussels at a press conference following the Military Committee meeting with the participation of the Chiefs of Defense of NATO member states. During the meeting, which included Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Ukraine-NATO Council also took place online.
“Our support for Ukraine remains strong; it is our top priority because the fight for Ukraine is not only about Ukraine but also about our collective security. The fight for Ukraine is our fight. All initiatives we have to support Ukraine’s right to defend itself are yielding results, and all allies are committed to their contributions. But we can and must do more, and our support will be long-lasting,” Dragone said.
The admiral expressed hope for peace in Ukraine “in the near future.”
“We also had a productive discussion regarding current efforts being conducted by the Coalition of the Willing in coordination with the Alliance mission,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Christopher G. Cavoli, responding to a question about the military’s readiness to implement former U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine, said:
“First, I think we all applaud President Trump’s efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine, given the incredible amount of bloodshed we see on the battlefield. As SACEUR, our duty is to help Ukrainians be as strong as possible. I suspect we will continue to do this in peacetime, although the parameters of any peace agreement will determine that. But we are ready to do whatever we are asked.”
According to Dragone, after discussing Ukraine, the military also reviewed security from a 360-degree perspective across all areas of Europe, the southern flank, the entire North Atlantic, and the Arctic.
Summarizing the meeting, the Chairman of the Military Committee stated that:
“first, the Alliance is united. We may sometimes have active exchanges of views, but I saw clear and strong convergence regarding the military threats we face and the direction we must take. Second, the Alliance is resilient. We cope with shocks and learn quickly. So, we are ready for this complex environment. Third, the Alliance is dynamic, not static. We adapt because we must, to fulfill our core tasks. Our motto is: adapt while deterring,” Dragone elaborated.
