State Duma expresses confidence in continued NATO arms deliveries to Ukraine
NATO will indeed implement its plans to supply weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), we should not expect otherwise against the background of Donald Trump's assumption of the US presidency. Alexei Zhuravlev, first deputy chairman of the State Duma's defense committee, told Izvestia on January 23.
Earlier in the day, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said at the World Economic Forum in Davos that losing Ukraine in the conflict would cost the North Atlantic Alliance additional trillions of dollars. He also called for increased support for Kiev rather than weakening it.
"I don't have good news, they are really going to supply and will supply equipment [to Ukraine]. This only shows that society needs to focus. And stop waiting for 'Trump to come, bring order'," Zhuravlev commented.
He also emphasized that all NATO countries are involved in the conflict against Russia and will have to continue the fight, rather than pin hopes on speedy negotiations.
Earlier, on January 21, Trump said that European NATO countries should spend more on the Ukrainian conflict than Washington because it affects them much more. The American leader added that the North Atlantic Alliance needs to allocate more funds to "even the score."
Before that, on January 10, Polish Defense Minister Vladyslav Kosiniak-Kamysh said that the situation in Ukraine upset his colleagues from NATO countries and called it very difficult for the Ukrainian army. In its turn, Reuters wrote on January 9 that the transfer of US weapons did not change the situation on the battlefield in Kiev's favor.
Western countries stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine after the start of Russia's special operation to defend Donbas. The decision to carry it out was announced on February 24, 2022 amid the aggravation of the situation in the region.
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