NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of allies not delaying assistance to Ukraine and warned that if Russia were to succeed in Ukraine, the West would have to spend much more on its defense.
He made these remarks during his visit to Kyiv at a joint briefing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Stoltenberg noted that during the latest meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, it was emphasized that Ukraine urgently needs more assistance, and allies responded to this call, as evidenced by the announced new aid over the past week.
"We must realize that if we do not provide assistance, if there are delays, it's a matter of life and death. This has real consequences. War is not something abstract; it's ongoing 24/7. When we don't provide what we should, Ukrainians pay the price," he emphasized.
"Of course, ensuring that Ukraine wins will cost money. And in such wars, like the one Ukraine is facing now, there are always risks. But an even greater risk is if Putin prevails… Because then we would have to invest much more in our security. Therefore, supporting Ukraine is the best way to guarantee our own security," the NATO Secretary General said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned during the briefing that regarding missile interceptors, positive expectations are anticipated for the existing missile defense systems. As for acquiring additional Patriot systems, Ukraine continues to work with allies.
During the meeting, Zelensky and Stoltenberg also discussed the NATO Secretary General's idea of ​​a special fund of €100 billion to support Ukraine.
