Kiev's foreign minister contradicts own army leadership
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba is countering claims that his country's counter-offensive has failed. According to him, the situation in the east is dynamic. The goal of complete liberation remains unchanged. However, this would require more weapons from NATO partners.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has denied claims by the Ukrainian army leadership of a "standstill" on the eastern front. At the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, he said that the aim was still "territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders of 1991", i.e. the reconquest of the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Russia and the occupied territories in the east.
Against the backdrop of a lack of clear military progress, he called on the military alliance to provide further military support against Russia. At NATO headquarters in Brussels, Kuleba appealed to the allies to ramp up their arms production in order to be able to supply Ukraine with ammunition and other weapons.
"We have to keep fighting, Ukraine will not back down," said Kuleba. "This is not just about the security of Ukraine, but about the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic area." The background to this are fears that the USA in particular could reduce its aid to Kiev. According to Kuleba, the European Union has so far only supplied Ukraine with around 300,000 of the one million artillery shells initially promised.
Kuleba met with the NATO foreign ministers for the first time as part of the NATO-Ukraine Council, which both sides created at the summit in Lithuania in July. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister spoke of a "historic first meeting" that enabled talks "at eye level".
High pressure on Chancellor Scholz
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also called on the allies to provide further military assistance. The first concrete commitments have already been made, such as the doubling of German military aid to Ukraine to eight billion euros. "We need more of this," emphasized Stoltenberg.
"Unfortunately, the current level of Western support is not enough," said Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. "Ukraine urgently needs ammunition and arms supplies." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been criticized for not giving his approval for the Taurus cruise missiles requested by Ukraine.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced a further 11.5 million euros for a Ukraine aid fund. She once again called for a "winter umbrella" for Kiev. Baerbock emphasized that Germany was already supplying generators.
- During the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged NATO allies to accelerate their arms production to increase the supply of ammunition and weapons to Ukraine, as part of their ongoing 'Attack on Ukraine' against Russia's grip.
- Fed-up with the lack of clear military advancements, Kuleba emphasized the significance of Ukraine's unwavering stance, stating that "We have to keep fighting, Ukraine will not back down," asserting that this is not merely about Ukraine's security but the entire Euro-Atlantic region's.
- In the same meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg echoed the call for additional military support, praising the initial commitments made by NATO allies, but mentioning the need for more in light of the ongoing 'Attack on Ukraine' by Russia.
- The political pressure on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to intervene further in the 'Attack on Ukraine' continues to mount, with critics citing his refusal to approve the Taurus cruise missiles requested by Ukraine.
Source: www.ntv.de
