On Tuesday, the EU and NATO promised to provide the Ukrainians with all the military equipment they need for self-defense, and “next week” they are to discuss the types of weapons that can be provided.
“Discussions with the Ukrainians are planned next week to see what types of weapons are needed and which of the allies are able to provide them,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after signing a joint statement with the presidents of the EU institutions.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Presidents of the European Council Charles Michel and European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen signed the NATO-EU Joint Declaration on Cooperation on Tuesday at the headquarters of the North Atlantic Alliance, News.ro reports.
The three leaders held a joint press conference after signing the Declaration, at which Jens Stoltenberg stated that NATO and the EU are determined to strengthen their partnership and called for increased support for Ukraine.
Stoltenberg also warned that there was no sign that Vladimir Putin had changed his goals for the “special military operation” he launched at the end of February last year.
Since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine, our EU-@NATO cooperation has only strengthened.
Today, thanks to the new Joint Declaration, we are taking our partnership to a new level.
We will deepen our excellent cooperation and expand it to new areas ↓ https://t.co/X6oWqOsXoi
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 10, 2023
“They showed a great willingness to suffer loss and suffering. We have no indication that President Putin has changed his plans and goals in Ukraine. Therefore, it is dangerous to underestimate Russia,” he emphasized.
However, the NATO secretary general said Putin had failed in his attempts to divide Western allies over the conflict that began on February 24, 2022, and undermine their support for Ukraine.
The EU wants to strengthen cooperation with NATO
“Russia’s war against Ukraine brought the EU and NATO closer together. Through today’s Declaration, we want to take our cooperation to a higher level to ensure peace and stability,” added the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, noted that “since the beginning of the Russian war in Ukraine, cooperation between the EU and NATO has strengthened” and that “today, through the new Joint Declaration, we are taking our partnership to a new level.”
“We will deepen our cooperation and expand it to new areas,” Von der Leyen promised.
“Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine violates international law and the principles of the UN Charter. This undermines European and global security and stability. Russia’s war has exacerbated the food and energy crisis that affects billions of people around the world,” said the document signed by the three states, Europa Liberă Romania reported.
“Solidarity with Ukraine and steadfast and continuous support for its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders” is another point of the statement, which also mentions “China’s growing challenges.”
The relationship between NATO and the EU was institutionalized in the early 2000s following the promotion of greater European responsibility for defense in the 1990s.
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Source: Hot News
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