6 NATO countries issue joint statement on Ukraine, US provides more weapons to Kyiv

Six European NATO member states have issued a joint statement supporting Ukraine's plans to join the US-led alliance.

The foreign ministers of Britain, France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Poland, along with the European Union's (EU) high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, issued a joint statement after a meeting with their Ukrainian counterpart in Berlin on December 12.

"The goals of a lasting, just and comprehensive peace for Ukraine and sustainable security for Europe are inseparable. Ukraine must win," the statement said, posted on the German Foreign Ministry's website.

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The countries pledged to support the end of the Russia-Ukraine conflict with "full respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity", support Ukraine "on its irreversible path towards full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership", as well as "on its path towards joining the European Union".

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga thanked the six countries and the EU for “frank discussion and readiness to take concrete steps.” Sibiga called for further sanctions, targeting Russia’s metallurgical, shipping and banking sectors, according to RT.

Ukrainian servicemen fire self-propelled artillery towards Russian positions at an undisclosed location in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine on November 18.

Earlier, the Kremlin said that Ukraine should abandon its plans to join NATO and instead pursue permanent neutrality. Russian President Vladimir Putin cited NATO’s eastward expansion and military cooperation with Ukraine as one of the root causes of the nearly three-year-long Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to RT.

Also on December 12, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the Joe Biden administration will provide a new $500 million arms aid package to Ukraine, according to Reuters.

The new aid package includes ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM), among other support, according to Mr. Blinken.

Earlier the same day, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced that the US will continue to provide additional aid packages to Ukraine until the end of the Biden administration's term.

More than 10 days ago, Washington announced that it would send Ukraine missiles, ammunition and other weapons, worth a total of 725 million USD.

The outgoing Biden administration is looking to support Ukraine in countering Russia's military campaign before Biden's term ends in January 2025, when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

In an interview broadcast by Suspilne television on the evening of December 12, Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said Kyiv was not yet ready to start negotiations with Russia because it lacked the weapons, security guarantees and international status it sought, according to Reuters.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/6-nuoc-nato-ra-tuyen-bo-chung-ve-ukraine-my-cap-them-vu-khi-cho-kyiv-185241213105228743.htm