US assistance embargo “impacting” Ukraine, according to NATO head

BRUSSELS: US help for Ukraine is running behind schedule, and this is negatively affecting Kyiv’s military’s ability to fight Russia, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday.
Ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Stoltenberg told reporters, “We see the impact already of the fact that the US has not been able to make a decision, but I expect the US to be able to make a decision, that the Congress and the House of Representatives will agree continued support to Ukraine.”

Commanders in Ukraine and authorities in the West have said that Kyiv’s forces are being outgunned by Russia on the front lines and are only being able to employ limited artillery and air defense ammunition.
“It would not only be terrible and detrimental for the Ukrainian people, but it will also put us in danger if we allow President Putin to win. It will increase our vulnerability and make the globe even more hazardous,” said Stoltenberg.
During a recent visit to Washington, the leader of the Western alliance reported seeing “broad agreement” over the need of continuing US support for Kyiv.
“I count on the US Congress to be able to reflect that support in a decision to sustain the support for Ukraine,” he said.

A $95 billion package for Taiwan, Israel, and Ukraine was easily passed by the US Senate on Tuesday, but House Speaker Mike Johnson—a supporter of Donald Trump—has refused to allow the plan to be voted on in the lower house.

Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defense minister, promised to bring up the matter with US senators at the next Munich Security Conference.
“We must stress that we are prepared to help Ukraine. We are all affected by this,” he said.
The uncertainty surrounding US support for Ukraine in the future coincides with growing concerns about US leadership after Republican front-runner Donald Trump’s shocking statement to NATO that he wouldn’t defend partners that don’t pay enough on defense.

With the publication of new data on Wednesday, NATO revealed that 18 of its 31 members are expected to reach its expenditure objective of 2% of GDP this year.
Sebastien Lecornu, the French minister of defense, said on Thursday that his country will work toward that objective this year with other European nations like Germany.

Regarding NATO’s European countries’ increased defense spending in response to Russia’s aggressiveness, Stoltenberg called it a “good thing” but cautioned against going it alone without the US.
“That isn’t a NATO substitute. In actuality, that strengthens NATO,” he said.
The “heart” of NATO, according to Stoltenberg, continues to be the alliance’s Article 5 duty to protect any partner under assault.
“And of course that applies for all allies,” he said.