At the conclusion of the NATO summit in Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a bold request to NATO leaders, urging them to lift all restrictions on the use of Western weapons against Russian military targets. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine cannot win the war without the ability to strike deeper into Russian territory, stating, ‘If we want to win, if we want to prevail, if we want to save our country and defend it, we need to eliminate all limitations’.The summit ended with a strong show of support for Ukraine, with NATO leaders committing to backing the country until victory against Russia. A significant financial commitment was made, with NATO countries pledging to provide at least €40 billion in military aid to Ukraine over the next year. The United States separately announced a new $225 million military aid package, which includes an additional Patriot missile system to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses.While NATO leaders reaffirmed that Ukraine’s path to NATO membership is ‘irreversible,’ they stopped short of issuing a formal invitation to join the alliance. Zelensky expressed satisfaction with the ‘concrete successes’ achieved at the summit, including the delivery of five Patriot missile batteries and the establishment of a NATO coordination mission in Germany.NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg described the summit as a ‘turning point,’ acknowledging that Ukraine had faced a difficult winter and spring due to delays in weapon and ammunition deliveries. He emphasized, ‘We will not allow this to happen again’.The summit also addressed broader geopolitical concerns, with discussions on China’s growing support for Russia and North Korea’s involvement in the conflict. China criticized NATO’s statements about its role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict as ‘malicious’ and ‘sowing discord’.As the war continues, Zelensky’s request for greater freedom in using Western weapons highlights the evolving nature of the conflict and the challenges Ukraine faces in its defense against Russian aggression.
Key points
- Zelensky urged NATO to lift restrictions on using Western weapons against Russian military targets.
- NATO leaders committed to providing at least €40 billion in military aid to Ukraine over the next year.
- The US announced a new $225 million military aid package, including an additional Patriot missile system.
- NATO reaffirmed Ukraine’s path to membership as ‘irreversible’ but did not issue a formal invitation.
Contradictions👾While some sources report NATO’s commitment to support Ukraine ‘until victory’, others note that NATO did not issue a clear invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance, suggesting a degree of caution in NATO’s approach.
