A meeting of defense ministers of countries that support Ukraine was held in Berlin, with the participation of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The key message of the meeting was that, despite global attention focused on the Middle East, support for Ukraine must not be reduced.
Rutte emphasized that allies must ensure continuity of aid to Kiev and that Ukraine must not be neglected at a time when international attention is diverted to other crises.
The meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine, which gathers around 50 countries, was held under the leadership of German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, together with Rutte and Fedorov, while other participants participated via video link.
Pistorius warned that the current events in the Middle East can indirectly benefit Russia, especially through the rise in energy prices, which further strengthens Moscow’s financial resources.
British Defense Minister John Healey announced an increase in the production and delivery of drones to Ukraine, emphasizing their increasing role on the modern battlefield.
Rutte also called on allies to increase financial support to meet the target of around $60 billion in aid to Ukraine this year, particularly in the areas of air defense, artillery and drones.
Fedorov pointed out that Ukraine went through an extremely difficult winter, during which, as he said, it was exposed to intense Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure, but managed to maintain resilience.
Participants in the meeting warned that the shift in global attention to the Middle East raises concerns that support for Kiev could wane, even as Ukrainian authorities continue to stress the need for continued international aid in the war against Russia.
(Vijesti.ba)
