NATO leaders to discuss Ukraine support at Washington summit

NATO leaders meet in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the alliance's support for Ukraine in the war against Russia.

The talks follow a ceremony held on Tuesday to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the military alliance in the aftermath of World War II and the onset of the Cold War.

The leaders are expected to discuss outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's plan to provide Kiev with military aid worth €40 billion ($43 billion) in 2025. NATO members have strongly supported Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

According to Stoltenberg, NATO needs to convince Russia that it cannot win its war against Ukraine by waiting for Western support to wither.

But the €40-billion pledge has been watered down from the multi-year financial commitment for Ukraine that Stoltenberg initially wanted. The alliance will review the military aid again next year, potentially weakening the package further.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday opened the summit by announcing that NATO allies would supply additional air defence systems to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is also attending, hopes that the meeting of national leaders from the 32 NATO countries will clarify Ukraine's prospects for membership of the Western military alliance.

The Ukrainian leadership also hopes to see a commitment to stronger military support as its forces seek to take back large parts of the country in the east and south which were illegally annexed by Russia.

The summit is Stoltenberg's last as secretary general. Former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte is set to take over in October.