NATO’s year-end talks to delve into Russia’s missile moves, regional security concerns

NATO foreign ministers are set to discuss Russia's use of the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile, its implications for the conflict in Ukraine, arms supplies to Kyiv, and Euro-Atlantic security during their final meeting of the year in Brussels.

 A diplomatic source in Brussels confirmed the agenda to Russian media, per Caliber.Az.

"The ministers will certainly address Russia's use of this new missile, both in relation to supporting Ukraine with air defence systems and its broader implications for the security of NATO countries," the source stated.

However, NATO headquarters has not provided any official comment on the matter.

On November 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin explained that the US and NATO had previously allowed the use of long-range precision-guided missiles, which led to US and British attacks on Russian military facilities in the Kursk and Bryansk regions. In response, Russia launched its new non-nuclear Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile against Ukraine’s Yuzhmash plant in Dnipro. Putin warned that further Western provocations could have severe consequences if the conflict escalates.

On November 26, NATO held a Ukraine-NATO Council meeting at the ambassadorial level to discuss the strike. NATO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine, emphasizing that the strike would not alter the alliance's stance or change the course of the conflict.

This meeting marks a significant break from NATO's usual practice, as it is the first time in decades that no pre-announced agenda has been provided ahead of the session. Typically, NATO senior officials give a detailed briefing on the meeting's contents 1-2 days before the event. This year’s meeting will be the first hosted by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and the briefing will be held just two hours before the meeting. Experts suggest that the delay may be due to technical issues at NATO headquarters related to the transition of US leadership and the recent change in the alliance's secretary general.

Official announcements about the meeting so far indicate that discussions will cover NATO operations, military spending, support for Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East. The Oreshnik missile strike is expected to be a central topic at the North Atlantic Council's session on December 4.

This will also be US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's final NATO meeting.

By Tamilla Hasanova