Stoltenberg and Baerbock call on G7 countries to provide more air defense systems for Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on the G7 countries to provide Ukraine with additional air defense systems.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to Der Standard.
The calls were addressed to the United States, as well as France and Italy. Germany is currently preparing to supply the third Patriot system.
The publication notes that seven major Western industrialized countries have promised Kyiv assistance in fighting Russian air attacks.
"We are highly determined to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities in order to save lives and protect critical infrastructure," reads the declaration adopted on Friday following the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Capri.
However, no specific new commitments have yet been made on the Italian Mediterranean island.
At the same time, the G7 called on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to immediately end his aggressive war against Ukraine.
The statement said that Russia should withdraw all its armed forces from Ukraine "immediately, completely and unconditionally."
"Russia can end this war today," the statement reads.
In the communiqué, the Group of Seven foreign ministers called on all countries not to support or condone Russia's attempts to acquire territory by force, and stated that they would never recognize the legitimacy of the so-called "referendums" or "elections", past or future, held by Russia in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, nor their results.
"We will continue to support Ukraine's right to self-defense and reaffirm our commitment to Ukraine's long-term security... We are strengthening our defense and security assistance to Ukraine and increasing our production and supply capabilities to assist Ukraine," the statement said.
The diplomats also emphasized that they support efforts to help Ukraine build future armed forces capable of self-defense and deterring any aggression.
"The Group of Seven also pledged to continue to provide military, financial, political, humanitarian, and economic support to Ukraine and its people, as well as to help Ukraine repair and rebuild its critical energy and environmental infrastructure.
