The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, attends the meeting of NATO Defense Ministers
The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, today attended the ministerial meeting held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, where NATO defence ministers met in two working sessions.
The first session, introduced by Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, brought together Swedish and Allied defence officials to discuss the investment commitment, the defence industrial base and the Deterrence and Defence agenda ahead of the Washington Summit in July.
The second session took place in NATO-Ukraine Council format. In addition to the allied ministers and the Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov - the latter via videoconference - the session was attended by the Swedish Defence Minister and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.
During the Council, participants learned first-hand about the situation and the most urgent needs of the Ukrainian forces and also took stock of NATO's short-, medium- and long-term assistance under assistance programmes.
In her speech at this second session, Minister Robles stressed the importance of the NATO-Ukraine Council as a "key instrument for increasing our support for Ukraine's efforts to respond to Putin's aggression", recalling that "Ukraine's future security and reconstruction depend on our renewed commitment and unity".
The minister reiterated that "Spain will maintain its unwavering support for Ukraine, both bilaterally and through various initiatives, such as the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, the European Union and, of course, through NATO".
Robles pointed out that the successful support scheme for Ukraine "must be reinforced with the launch of the Capability Coalitions to build and sustain the Ukrainian Armed Forces of the future", recalling that Spain will participate in six of them.
Finally, the minister, referring to the actual state of the arms and ammunition stocks of partners and allies, stressed the need to encourage direct supplies from the national and European defence industry to Ukraine.
Non official translation