Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov participated in a panel discussion at the NATO Public Forum held during the visit of the Ukrainian delegation to The Hague.
The topic of discussion was the consolidation of international efforts to strengthen Ukraine in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.
In his speech, the Minister of Defense emphasized the importance of continuous military support for Ukraine and the coordination of partners’ actions within the “Ramstein” format. According to him, this is one of the key factors for Ukraine’s success on the battlefield.
“We strive for a lasting ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, and meetings at the level of country leaders,” Rustem Umerov stated.
The head of the defense ministry highlighted the need to further strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine, develop the defense-industrial complex, and enhance the country’s position on the international stage.
“In the future, we aim to be part of the EU and NATO. But for now — we are building a strong Ukraine with a strong army,” the minister added.
During the discussion, Rustem Umerov also outlined priority areas of cooperation with partners, including:
- Strengthening the air defense system to protect the population and critical infrastructure;
- Developing the defense industry as a contribution to the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic community;
- Advancing the system of international security guarantees, particularly within the Coalition of the Willing initiative.
The Minister of Defense of Ukraine thanked all the countries that provide support to Ukraine and called on allies for continued decisive and coordinated assistance.
