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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (l.) with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (r.)

Photo: Johanna Geron / AFP

At NATO's 75th anniversary celebrations, there is a lot of talk about Ukraine and its role in the defense alliance. According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, NATO states' support for Ukraine remains "rock solid." The summit of the US-led military alliance in Washington in July is intended to build a bridge to Ukraine's membership. »Ukraine will become a member of NATO. Our goal at the summit is to help build a bridge to this membership," Blinken told the press in Brussels. The foreign ministers of the NATO states are currently holding discussions there.

At the NATO anniversary celebration in Brussels, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also called for cohesion between North America and Europe. "Two world wars, the Cold War and every challenge we have faced since then have taught us that we need each other," said Stoltenberg at the ceremony with the foreign ministers of the alliance states.

Stoltenberg had previously proposed a five-year fund for Ukraine worth 100 billion euros. The plan received broad support from NATO representatives. Several ministers called for Ukraine to be more closely integrated into NATO, including Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

But one has to be careful that there is no double spending because the EU already has a fund worth billions for military aid to Ukraine. “Within NATO we must further strengthen and consolidate our activities and our support for Ukraine,” said Baerbock in Brussels.

The 32 NATO foreign ministers want to celebrate the 75th birthday of the Western defense alliance today. They will also meet their Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba in the NATO-Ukraine Council. This is also about helping Ukraine in its defense against Russia. The two youngest alliance members Finland and Sweden will also take part in the meeting. "Democratic nations and free people have chosen to join NATO, in contrast to Russia, which is expanding through annexation or illegal aggression," said Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.

lpz/Reuters