NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has extended an invitation for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to participate in the alliance’s upcoming summit in Vilnius this July. The announcement came during a press briefing where Stoltenberg confirmed the invite, underscoring NATO’s ongoing commitment to Ukraine amid the evolving security landscape in Europe.
“I invited President Zelensky to the NATO summit in Vilnius in July,” Stoltenberg stated, emphasizing the alliance’s readiness to engage with Kyiv at the highest level of decision-making. The invitation signals not only a formal platform for dialogue but also a unified show of support from allied nations as they navigate the complexities of sustained security guarantees for Ukraine in the face of ongoing aggression.
In remarks that echoed the broader strategic assessment within the alliance, Stoltenberg highlighted a persistent challenge: the uneven and incomplete stabilization of artillery ammunition supplies to Ukraine among member states. This point reflects a critical bottleneck in sustaining Kyiv’s defensive operations over time, even as political backing remains strong. The reality is that the logistics of arms and munitions require coordinated industrial return and predictable procurement cycles across multiple governments and defense firms, a task that grows more intricate as the conflict persists.
The secretary-general argued that enduring Ukrainian support hinges on deepened collaboration with the defense industry. By fostering longer-term contracts and robust industrial partnerships, NATO members can better anticipate demand, streamline production, and ensure timely deliveries. This approach is presented as essential to preserving Kyiv’s military viability and to maintaining Allied credibility on the broader security stage, particularly as the war continues to test the cohesion and resolve of Western partners.
Stoltenberg further noted that the current pattern of ammunition shipments from Western allies is unsustainable if left unchecked. He pointed to the substantial and ongoing expenditure required to sustain Kyiv’s needs, describing the situation as a serious logistical challenge rather than a straightforward supply issue. The framing as a “logistical war” emphasizes that success depends on more than political declarations; it requires persistent, practical coordination across industries, logistics networks, and national budgets to keep the pace with battlefield requirements and strategic timelines.
Looking ahead, the Secretary-General reaffirmed NATO’s pledge to maintain steadfast support for Ukraine for as long as it takes. He stressed that the alliance will not permit any external actor to determine Ukraine’s future sovereignty and security outcomes through force. The stance reflects a long-term commitment to deterrence, resilience, and continuous reinforcement of Ukraine’s defense capabilities, including sustained arms, training, and modernization efforts. The message conveys a clear expectation among Allies: unity, resilience, and a readiness to adapt to evolving threats as the conflict unfolds, with Vilnius serving as a critical arena for reaffirming those commitments and aligning on next steps while the security landscape in Europe remains tense and uncertain.