NATO pledges €40bn support for Ukraine amidst growing tensions

Stoltenberg announced that a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky will occur on Thursday at the NATO-Ukraine forum. "That was a good and productive meeting where we prepared all the important decisions we'll make here on defence, on support for Ukraine, and ultimately on burden sharing that European allies are now really stepping up and spending a record amount of money on defence," said Stoltenberg.

"We will have a command in Germany, there will be 700 people, and in some centers in the eastern part of the Alliance. We are also doing this in order to help not only support, but also jointly invest and develop projects, increase Ukraine's ability to independently produce weapons and ammunition. We are also doing this to help not only support but also jointly invest and develop projects, increase Ukraine's ability to independently produce weapons and ammunition," said the NATO Secretary General.

Stoltenberg stated, "This will not make NATO a party to the conflict, but it will help Ukraine uphold its right to self-defence."

"We will increase our support for Ukraine by establishing a NATO Coordination and Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, and by ensuring a sustained support for the long term. Support to Ukraine is not charity. It is in our own security interest," said Stoltenberg.

In 2025, this commitment will be reviewed to ensure it meets Ukraine's needs. "We are not doing this because we want to prolong a war. We are doing this because we want to end the war as soon as possible. The quickest way to end the war is to lose the war. But that will not bring peace. It will only bring occupation. So unless we want Ukraine to lose, unless we want to bow to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, we need to show commitment and resolve. The more credible and enduring our support, the quicker Moscow will realize it cannot wait us out, and the sooner the war can end," said the NATO chief.

"The Alliance fully supports Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defence, and its right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraine’s future is in NATO. Cooperation has deepened over time and is mutually beneficial. Ukraine has a long track record of active contributions to NATO-led operations and missions," the document reads.

The declaration emphasised that "Russia bears sole responsibility for its war of aggression against Ukraine, a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter."

"There can be no impunity for Russian forces’ and officials’ abuses and violations of human rights, war crimes, and other violations of international law. Russia is responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians and has caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s horrific attacks on the Ukrainian people, including on hospitals, on 8 July. Russia must immediately stop this war and completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its forces from Ukraine in line with UN General Assembly resolutions. We will never recognise Russia’s illegal annexations of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea. We also call on Russia to withdraw all of its forces from the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, stationed there without their consent," it was written.

All countries were called upon not to provide any assistance to Russia's aggression. "We condemn all those who are facilitating and thereby prolonging Russia’s war in Ukraine," it reads.

"The PRC (People's Republic of China) cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation," said the NATO Secretary General.

"We urge the PRC to engage in strategic risk reduction discussions and promote stability through transparency. We remain open to constructive engagement with the PRC, including to build reciprocal transparency with the view of safeguarding the Alliance’s security interests. At the same time, we are boosting our shared awareness, enhancing our resilience and preparedness, and protecting against the PRC’s coercive tactics and efforts to divide the Alliance," announced Stoltenberg.

The same statement was included in the final communiqué published at the summit. NATO also stated that Beijing poses a "systemic challenge" to security in the Euro-Atlantic region through hybrid and cyber actions.

"In our meeting, we also decided to take further steps to bring Ukraine even closer to NATO. As Ukraine continues its vital reforms, we'll continue to support them [Ukrainians] on the irreversible path to NATO membership," said Stoltenberg. He added that "The work we are doing together now will ensure that, when the time is right, Ukraine can join without delay."

"It is not the question of if but when," said the NATO chief.