Germany Zelensky sees Ukraine on its way to Nato - Kremlin warns

Following the NATO summit in Washington, Ukraine sees itself strengthened in its fight against the Russian war of aggression.

Until the country joins the military alliance, Ukraine will rely on security agreements with NATO states, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in Washington after the summit and after talks with US President Joe Biden, among others. Ukraine will continue to make progress in developing its own security architecture.

At the end of their summit meeting, the heads of state and government of the 32 NATO states promised Ukraine their support until victory against Russia. The alliance is determined to support Ukraine in building a force capable of ending Russian aggression, according to a statement released after a meeting with Zelenskyi. Ukraine's fight for its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity contributes directly to Euro-Atlantic security. NATO's support will continue for as long as necessary.

The declaration once again emphasizes the decisions of the NATO summit to strengthen Ukraine. With them, the alliance states promise to provide further military aid worth 40 billion euros within the next year. Ukraine is also assured that it can no longer be stopped on its way into the defense alliance. Both are also intended to show Russian President Vladimir Putin that he should not count on Nato getting tired of supporting Ukraine at some point.

In his closing press conference, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described the summit as a "turning point". Ukraine had experienced a difficult winter and spring because delays and gaps in the supply of weapons and ammunition had had consequences on the battlefield. "We will not allow this to happen again," he said.

Ukraine wants release of Western weapons for shelling from Russia

At a press conference with Stoltenberg, Selensky once again called for the lifting of all restrictions on the use of Western weapons against Russian territory. "If we want to win and preserve our country, then all these restrictions must be lifted," he emphasized. The main issue here is military bases in the Russian hinterland, from which missile attacks such as the one on the capital Kiev on Monday originate. "If they attacked us and killed our children, it is crazy to ask why we are not allowed to attack this military base," said Selenskyj.

Ukraine is defending itself against the Russian invasion with massive Western support. Several allies have supplied Kiev with missiles and cruise missiles with longer ranges, but have limited their area of deployment to Russian territories bordering Ukraine.

However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) rejected Zelenskyi's call for all restrictions on the use of Western weapons against Russian territory to be lifted. "Nobody intends to change the existing measures and guidelines - for good reason," said Scholz at the end of the NATO summit in Washington. "It remains our task to ensure that we provide Ukraine with maximum support, but prevent the war from escalating into a war between Russia and NATO. And that requires wisdom, clarity and firmness."

USA provides Ukraine with further military aid

In the meantime, the USA is providing Ukraine with further military aid to ward off the Russian war of aggression. The new package, worth 225 million US dollars (around 207 million euros), includes the Patriot air defense system already announced by the USA, as well as anti-aircraft missiles from the Nasams system, Himars multiple rocket launchers and 155 and 105 millimetre caliber artillery ammunition, the US government announced. According to the information provided, the weapons come from US military stocks.

Shortly before the announcement, US President Biden and Selensky had met for talks on the sidelines of the NATO summit. The USA and other NATO states had already promised Ukraine extensive equipment to defend against Russian air attacks at the start of the summit. According to the Pentagon, the USA has provided Kiev with military aid amounting to more than 53.7 billion US dollars (around 49.4 billion euros) since the start of the Russian war of aggression.

German government: US weapons needed in Germany

The Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Defense Minister of the coalition government agree that the stationing of large-scale US weapons in Germany announced on the fringes of the summit is an effective contribution to deterring Russian aggression. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) told ZDF's "heute journal" at the NATO summit in Washington: "We have a new threat situation. Vladimir Putin has shown what he is willing and able to do."

The minister told ARD's "Tagesthemen" that there could be no talk of a new arms race. "Russia has had these weapons systems stationed in Kaliningrad for some time now - as we suspect - which means they are within absolute range of Germany and other European nations."

The USA wants to rearm in Germany to protect Europe. Chancellor Scholz and his deputy Robert Habeck (Greens) see this as a necessity. "We know that there has been an incredible arms build-up in Russia, with weapons that threaten European territory," said Scholz in Washington. Habeck said that the Russian arms build-up "obviously also threatens NATO's eastern flank". "Russia is therefore not a peace partner at the moment", he told the newspaper "Neue Westfälische" (Friday edition).

Moscow is around 1600 kilometers away from Berlin as the crow flies. From 2026, Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers, SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles and newly developed supersonic weapons will provide better protection for NATO allies in Europe.

Kremlin criticizes plans for US weapons in Germany

Russia reacted with warnings and threats to the planned stationing of US weapons in Germany. "We are well on the way to a Cold War. This has all happened before," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state television. He accused Germany, the USA, France and Great Britain of being directly involved in the conflict over Ukraine.

"All this is being done with the aim of undermining our country. Everything is being done to guarantee our strategic defeat on the battlefield," emphasized Peskov. Russia must take all of this into account. "This is no reason for pessimism. On the contrary: this is a reason to pull ourselves together and use all the rich potential we have to achieve all the goals we have set ourselves in the course of the special military operation."

This refers to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, which Moscow is using, among other things, to prevent Kiev from becoming a member of NATO. Russian diplomats had also previously threatened Russia with a counter-reaction and warned of a new arms race.

SDA