NATO leaders held an emergency meeting to strengthen the alliance’s presence along its eastern flank and increase national defense spending. The Alliance has announced four new battlegrounds in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. Latvia and Estonia insisted that combat-ready defense was arranged in the Baltics as soon as possible. The SG Stoltenberg and individual heads of state and government noted that NATO was going to provide support for Ukraine, including advanced air defense systems, anti-tank weapons and ammunition. The US President Joe Biden recognised the real risk that Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine and that NATO would respond if it happened. Nevertheless, the alliance’s long-standing opposition to sending in troops or enforcing a Ukraine-requested no-fly zone remained solid.
G7 leaders discussed sanctions Western allies have imposed and would impose on Russia over the war in Ukraine. EU leaders debated the measures to control gas prices and what further sanctions on Russia’s energy sector. A temporary oil and coal embargo is a realistic decision currently discussed by the EU leaders of states.
Questions:
- What do reactions of states at the Summit say about the Alliance’s position on support for Ukraine?
- Have new solutions to support Ukraine’s military effort been discussed?
- Are any of them realistic in the short run?
- What are the positions that changed in favour of Ukraine compared to earlier days of war?
Speakers:
- Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, MP and Head of the committee for integration of Ukraine to European Union
- Ariana Gic, writer, activist, political and legal analyst; and Director, Direct Initiative International Centre for Ukraine
- Dr. Kateryna Shynkaruk, Associated Fellow of Analytical Center UCU
UKRAINE IN FLAMES project is created by Ukraine Crisis Media Center, Ukrainian Catholic University’s analitical center and NGO “Euroatlantic Course”. We are aiming at searching a loud support for Ukraine in the war started by Russia on the 24th of February 2022.
If you want to support Ukraine against Russian aggression, check the link with recommendations by Ukraine Crisis Media Center – https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine.
NGO Euroatlantic Course collects donations to support Ukrainian Army and civilians – https://eac.org.ua/en/main-page/.
