Senior official says NATO to continue supporting Ukraine
(MENAFN) NATO has reaffirmed its commitment to backing Ukraine until a durable peace is achieved, a senior alliance official has stated. Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of NATO's military committee since January, described the conflict as “almost time to sit and talk because it's a waste of lives,” noting that the war had reached a stalemate from an operational perspective.
Highlighting the unintended consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Adm Dragone pointed out that the conflict prompted Finland and Sweden to join NATO, calling it a strategic failure for President Vladimir Putin despite Russia’s gradual battlefield gains. He added: “They will not get a friendly or puppet government like in Belarus. Putin will not succeed.”
On European support for Ukraine, the admiral stressed that member states were prepared to maintain assistance, having recognized the importance of taking responsibility for their own defense. NATO members have agreed to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, responding to long-standing calls from the US.
Addressing concerns over Russia’s nuclear-powered weapons, including the Burevestnik and Poseidon systems, Adm Dragone said: “We are not threatened by them, we are just ready to defend our 32 nations and our one billion people. We are a nuclear alliance.”
He also highlighted potential future threats, noting that any new attacks would likely target the Baltic states, with NATO’s Article 5 obligations ensuring collective defense. “Yes, because they have committed to this and they have underlined that they are still in the business,” he said regarding US involvement.
Air defense was identified as NATO’s top priority, especially after recent drone incursions into Poland and Romania. Plans for a “drone wall” on the alliance’s eastern borders are underway, with the Allied Command Transformation in Virginia coordinating efforts. Adm Dragone explained: “Airspace incursions are pretty frequent, we escort them out and that's basically the game.”
Despite signs that some members, particularly Slovakia and Hungary, are wavering in their support for Ukraine, Adm Dragone concluded optimistically: “The alliance is reliable, it is mature, there is a cohesion which is our centre of gravity. The alliance is stronger than our adversaries, and we will stay with Ukraine up to the day that peace will break out.”
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
