The management of the Ukrainian conflict was discussed in particular.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Washington on Monday.
The management of the Ukrainian conflict was discussed in particular.
The meeting took place on the eve of the summit marking NATO’s 75th anniversary.
Jens Stoltenberg particularly praised the role of the American government in supporting Ukraine and returned to the bombing of a children’s hospital the day before in Kyiv.
“In Ukraine, Russia continues its brutal war. Today again, we have witnessed horrific missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, killing innocent civilians, including children. I condemn these heinous attacks. At the summit, we will take decisions to strengthen our support for Ukraine. Russia must understand that it cannot wait for us. It must sit down and accept a solution where Ukraine asserts itself as a sovereign and independent nation..”
The summit is also expected to address the challenges posed by China and the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Moreover, the alliance’s leadership is going through a period of uncertainty about President Joe Biden’s ability to beat Donald Trump, a former president traditionally skeptical of NATO’s role, next November.