NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke at a press briefing ahead of the ministerial meeting in Bucharest, noting that Ukraine will face a tough winter. He said the period will also be challenging for the United States and Europe as they grapple with an energy crisis and rising prices.
He described the harsh reality Ukrainians confront as heat, light and food become harder to secure, while rockets threaten cities and civilian infrastructure. This marks a difficult winter start for Ukraine, Stoltenberg stated.
At the Bucharest gathering, he anticipated foreign ministers from NATO member states would agree to boost nonlethal support to Kyiv, including winter clothing, fuel and medicines.
Stoltenberg warned of a difficult winter ahead for Ukraine and for America and Europe alike. He added that if Russia prevails, the price paid by the coalition would be higher still. NATO plans to intensify support for Ukraine and does not intend to back down, he asserted.
According to the alliance leader, the most effective path toward a peaceful end to the conflict is sustained support for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov previously estimated that repairing the country’s energy system would require hundreds of millions of dollars. He noted additional funding would be needed beyond current budget allocations. President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia’s strikes on energy infrastructure have left widespread electricity shortages across nearly all regions and water shortages in 15 regions, with temperatures near freezing. In Kyiv and the surrounding area, bread became scarce in stores.
On Ukraine’s NATO prospects
When asked about Ukraine joining NATO, Stoltenberg recalled recent enlargements and indicated that Sweden and Finland received invitations to join in 2022 and that North Macedonia and Montenegro joined in previous years. He stressed that NATO remains open to such decisions and that Russia does not have a veto over alliance expansion. This message also applies to Ukraine, he affirmed.
At the same time, he emphasized focusing on immediate assistance to Ukraine to help it prevail in the fight. He asserted that the top priority is military aid to prevent a Russian victory and to enable Kyiv to reclaim its territories while preserving sovereignty.
Stoltenberg noted that Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova were invited to a Bucharest meeting to discuss next steps for defending their independence. On 6 October, European Commissioner Thierry Breton stated that Ukraine cannot join NATO while the conflict continues, since alliance rules preclude admitting a state with unresolved territorial disputes.
Expansion of weapons production
The Secretary General highlighted a significant increase in ammunition production in Eastern Europe to support Ukrainian forces still relying on Soviet era munition and parts. He added that several eastern flank countries retain strong production capacities for these materials.
Earlier, he said that supplying modern air defense systems to Ukraine remains a priority. NATO members have already delivered advanced systems such as multiple rocket launchers, and training for Ukrainian crews is conducted by NATO instructors from member states to ensure effective operation.
Stoltenberg stressed that alliance personnel are not conducting maintenance inside Ukraine and that NATO does not consider itself a participant in the conflict. He asserted that NATO does not field troops in Ukraine, but the alliance fully supports Kyiv. On November 21, he ruled out meaningful dialogue with Russia under the current conditions and recalled that NATO has provided aid to Ukraine since 2014, with potential for even greater support prior to the invasion [Citation: NATO Presse Center].