Representatives of the alliance said that NATO member countries agreed to supply Ukraine with new types of modern weapons, and Kyiv is preparing for a Russian offensive in the east of the country, writes the Financial Times.
The pledge came after Ukraine’s foreign minister urged Western countries to speed up deliveries or risk “killing a lot of people…if this aid comes too late.”
In the six weeks since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, Moscow’s troops have largely withdrawn from territory north of Kyiv after failing to capture the capital, but have regrouped and rearmed before attempting an offensive in the east. Donbass, Ukrainian and Western officials said.
This prompted Kyiv to demand that Western countries supply more heavy weapons, armored vehicles and more advanced systems. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he would use the NATO summit in Brussels to request planes, missiles, armored vehicles, heavy air defense and other equipment.
Liz Truss, the British Foreign Secretary, told reporters after the meeting that Member States supported providing more arms:
“The supply of new and heavier equipment by countries to Ukraine was supported so that it can respond to new threats from Russia. We have agreed to help the Ukrainian forces move from Soviet-era equipment to NATO standard equipment.”