Opening remarks
by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO-Ukraine Council in Defence Ministers Session
(As delivered)
Okay, if you all can find your seats. I think we are ready to start. Good afternoon. It is good to see you all. Good afternoon and welcome to this meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of defence ministers. We are joined by Ukrainian Defence minister Umerov and the European Union. Dear Rustem, a warm welcome to you.
It's good to see you again. Today, we'll discuss our continued support to Ukraine, including with much needed additional air defence capabilities. We'll hear from Minister Umerov about the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine's immediate and long term requirements for support. At the Washington summit next month, we will send a clear message to Kyiv that we stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes and the clear message to Moscow that they cannot wait us out.
This ends the public part of the meeting. I thank our friends in media for joining us and then the meeting continues in just a moment.