Stoltenberg: NATO countries to pledge more military aid to Ukraine in Vilnius

The North Atlantic Alliance countries will promise to increase military assistance to Ukraine and commit to long-term assistance at the Vilnius summit on July 11-12.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made the remarks in an interview with TV channel PBS.

"First of all, the most important thing that will happen at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July is that NATO allies will express strong support for Ukraine not only in words but also in deeds. Because I am absolutely sure that our NATO allies will make new statements about significant military support for Ukraine and promise to maintain and strengthen it. We will make it absolutely clear that we are ready to support Ukraine for as long as it takes," he said.

Stoltenberg added that the NATO countries at the summit will give "a powerful signal on the issue of Ukraine".

"I also expect that we will agree on a multi-year plan, a program to ensure the transition of the Ukrainian armed forces from the old Soviet standards, and doctrines to modern NATO standards and doctrines and ensure their full compatibility with NATO, which will also bring them [Ukrainians] closer to membership [in the alliance]," the secretary-general said.