NATO defense ministers are in Brussels on Thursday for a two-day meeting focused on the war in Ukraine, the alliance’s future defense plans and defense industry production.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will chair the meeting of defense ministers for the first time after taking office. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will be present.
The Western military alliance is meeting at NATO headquarters after Ukrainian President Volodomir Zelensky unveiled a long-awaited “victory plan” to end the war with Russia.
Zelensky demanded an immediate invitation to join NATO, and reiterated his call for lifting restrictions on Western long-range weapons that prevent Ukraine from attacking targets deep inside Russia.
While emphasizing the alliance’s support for Ukraine, Rutte gave a cautious response to Zelensky’s announcement, noting that he “cannot support the entire plan.”
NATO membership for Ukraine is a controversial issue for the alliance as there are fears of an escalation of the war that would extend the conflict with Russia to the current members of the alliance.
Umerov will brief NATO defense ministers on Ukrainian plans to defend against Russian attacks next winter. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell will also be present.
NATO Supreme Commander Christopher Cavoli will present ministers his new plans for the future defense of the 32-member alliance. Projects to standardize NATO equipment will also be discussed.
The defense ministers will also be joined for the first time by their counterparts from Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand.
NATO plans to discuss the “growing alignment of authoritarian actors such as China, Russia, North Korea and Iran,” Rutte said.
