Ukraine can count on Nato for the 'long haul', says sec-gen

Nato’s secretary-general said on Thursday that Ukraine can count on the alliance “now and for the long haul” as its three-day leaders’ summit in Washington, DC concluded.

“Today, we send a strong message of unity to Moscow that violence and intimidation do not pay, and that Ukraine can count on Nato now and for the long haul,” Anadolu Agency quoted Jens Stoltenberg as saying in a news conference.

“Allies have agreed that as Ukraine continues necessary reforms, we will support them on their irreversible path to membership,” he said.

Referring to China's participation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Nato chief said, 'We agree that China's support in this conflict will impact its interests and reputation."

Asked about the upcoming presidential election in the US, Stoltenberg said, “I would just say that I expect that the US will remain a strong and loyal Nato ally because it is in the security interest of the US.

“The reality is that Nato also makes the US stronger and safer,” he added.

On recent elections in Europe, he said there are questions about whether new governments and new political parties will support Nato.

“And of course, in democracy, you don’t have any guarantees. But the reality is that Nato has proven extremely resilient, because every time they have a new party, a new government, they realise that every Nato ally is safer in Nato than outside Nato,” he said.

- Bernama

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