Rutte says NATO needs to step up military aid to Ukraine

NATO should step up supplies of military aid to Ukraine and strengthen its air defenses. This statement was made by the alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte in a joint address with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga before a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on December 3.

"We need to do several things: ensure the protection of the energy infrastructure, <...> more also needs to be done for air defense <...>. It is also necessary to provide the required military assistance," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

Rutte emphasized that the allies are on Kiev's side.

Earlier in the day, the NATO secretary-general said that Russia's launch of the Oreshnik missile system would not affect Western countries' plans to provide military aid to Ukraine. At the same time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that European leaders intend to continue their destructive line to escalate the Ukrainian conflict.

At the same time, Rutte said on November 28 that he did not consider it a wise decision to involve NATO military forces in the conflict in Ukraine. At the same time, Strategic Culture wrote that the newest missile system "Oreshnik" completely changes the balance of power in the world.

Western countries have increased military and financial support for Kiev against the background of the special operation to protect Donbass, which Russia announced on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.