NATO Calls for Adequate Support for Ukraine to ‘Change the Course’ of the War

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte urged members of the alliance on Wednesday to provide Ukraine with sufficient weapons to “change the course” of the war, as Russian forces made gains along the frontline. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is heading to Malta on Thursday to attend a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, marking his first visit to an EU member state since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

On Tuesday, the Russian military announced it had taken control of two villages in southern and eastern Ukraine, where its forces are making unprecedented gains since March 2022. Rutte said after a meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels: “We need to provide enough support [to Ukraine] to change the course of this war decisively.”

On Wednesday, Ukraine’s Air Force announced that its air defenses had shot down 29 out of 50 drones launched by Russia the previous night. A statement explained that the Russian forces conducted a coordinated attack on Ukraine using a KH-69-59 guided missile launched from the Kursk region, along with 50 Shahed drones and other unidentified types launched from the Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Oryol, and Millerovo regions, as reported by the Ukrainian national news agency Ukrinform.

Rutte, the NATO Secretary-General, clarified: “This means we want to put Ukraine in a strong position so that the Ukrainian government can eventually start negotiations with the Russians.” He again called for providing Ukraine with more military assistance to help it better defend itself against Russian strikes, which have been destroying energy facilities for weeks.

On Tuesday, Ukraine requested at least 20 air defense systems to protect as many strategic energy facilities as possible on its territory, commenting on the difficult situation Kyiv faces on the battlefield.

The NATO Secretary-General also stated that Russia “supports” North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs in exchange for weapons and soldiers from Pyongyang to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine. He added: “These developments could destabilize the Korean Peninsula and even threaten the United States.” He considered that “the illegal war in Ukraine threatens us all” and pointed to the global danger posed by what he called the “increasing coordination” between Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran in this conflict.

Rutte and several European countries within NATO are trying to convince U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, before he assumes office in January, to continue supporting Ukraine. The American billionaire promised during his campaign to end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours,” but did not disclose how this goal would be achieved. North Korea sent between 10,000 and 12,000 soldiers to Russia to help Moscow in its war against Ukraine, which the West considered a “major escalation.”

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated on Wednesday that NATO members would need to provide guarantees to achieve peace in Ukraine. He added: “If we want peace in Ukraine, we will need to provide security guarantees. There is no cheaper way for security guarantees than Article 5 of the NATO Charter.” He continued: “The war will only be settled on the battlefield. Anyone who says we can’t provide Ukraine with what it needs is mistaken.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended his refusal to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles, stating that what matters now is “keeping a calm mindset.” He also defended his recent trip to Ukraine, noting that it was crucial at this time before the winter, which poses significant risks to Ukraine. He mentioned that the purpose of the visit was to discuss with the Ukrainians their plans for this stage and that it had to be done “in a detailed and intensive way.”

Scholz emphasized that this is a matter of principle, stating: “This principle means that decisions should not be made beyond the Ukrainians.”

Decisions on how to move forward should not be determined through phone calls and agreements made by others, but Ukraine should be able to consider this by discussing it with its best friends and allies. “That’s exactly what I did,” he concluded.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Wednesday that Ukraine needs to engage young people aged 18 to 25 in the war against Russia. He added that human resources in the battlefield are more important than ammunition and weapons for success. He said to Reuters during an interview in Brussels: “These are very difficult decisions… but many of us believe that involving young people in the battle, for example, is necessary. Those aged 18 to 25 are not currently participating in the battle.”