2023-10-11 16:41:46
The defense ministers of NATO and its partners met on Wednesday. But the second person who drove up to the Alliance headquarters that morning was not a minister. Volodymyr Zelenskyj swung out of a limousine shortly before nine, a surprise. The Ukrainian president’s visit had apparently been planned at very short notice, and the few people who were in the know had all kept a tight hold.
Thomas Gutschker
Political correspondent for the European Union, NATO and the Benelux countries based in Brussels.
It was the first time he personally attended a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group that coordinates arms deliveries to the country, also known as the Ramstein format. But for Zelenskyj that day was about more than that. His visit was intended to ensure that Kiev remains the center of attention at a time when Western partners are closely following the new war between Hamas and Israel.
This also and especially applies to Allianz. On Thursday morning, the NATO defense ministers want to be briefed on the situation by their Israeli colleague Joav Galant. This item was added to the agenda at the last minute and Galant is to be connected via video conference.
Zelenskyj promotes support for Israel
Some diplomats expressed the expectation that he might also ask for military support – not from the alliance as such, but from the assembled member states. “And if he asks, we can’t say no,” said one. In preliminary discussions, the question repeatedly came up as to whether such support could possibly come at the expense of Kiev.
There are different assessments of this, but there is already one term: “resource competition”. Of course it depends on the duration and extent of the war. Reference was made to promises that American President Joe Biden made on Tuesday for ammunition and interceptor missiles for the “Iron Dome” system. Biden said they will “ensure that Israel does not run out of these important capabilities.” “Iron Dome” is not in competition with Ukraine’s air defense systems, but what if it doesn’t stay that way? It is said internally that an artillery shell or a defense missile can only be fired once.
This was the context in which Ukraine’s partners met in Brussels, and Zelensky may have been all too aware of it. Immediately after his arrival, the President spontaneously spoke about the other theater of war. “I recommend that world leaders go to Israel and support the people,” he said. After the Russian attack, it was very important for Ukraine “not to be alone”. The Ukrainian president did not mention military support for Israel.
Zelensky warns of attacks on infrastructure
But Lloyd Austin, the American Secretary of Defense. As a host in the Ramstein format, he opens each session – this time also with a reference to the Middle East. “We will remain in close contact with our Israeli partners,” Austin announced, “and ensure that they have everything they need to protect their country.” Of course, he also said: “The United States will continue to do so for a long time stand on the side of Ukraine as necessary.” Other ministers also confirmed this.
American Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Zelenskyj on Wednesday at NATO headquarters in Brussels: Image: AFP
The main point of this Ramstein meeting was to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capability in the coming winter. Russia will again try to attack his country’s energy infrastructure, Zelensky said, this time with “even greater terrorist efforts.” Air defense is therefore his top priority. It will also make a decisive contribution to determining when the war will end.
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