NATO to Convene Ukraine Council as Kyiv Requests Joint Discussion
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will chair a NATO-Ukraine Council session at the level of permanent representatives on January 10. The announcement came via the alliance’s official communications, noting that Kyiv requested the meeting. The information was shared on the alliance’s social media channel by the spokesperson, Dylan White, who confirmed the purpose of the gathering.
The session will be held in response to Ukraine’s request following Russia’s recent missile strikes and drone incursions. Ukrainian officials have said the forum will address the escalating security situation and coordination of allied support.
Earlier in January, Ukraine faced an air raid alert that was declared across the country. Reports indicate that Russian forces targeted facilities tied to Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises involved in missile production, unmanned aerial vehicles, and weapons repair in and around Kyiv. These actions were described by Kyiv as an intensification of the conflict and a reminder of the broader strategic stakes at play in the region.
According to statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense, a planned attack using long-range precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles was carried out. The ministry asserted that the strikes hit facilities storing missiles, munitions, and aircraft weapon components supplied to Ukraine by Western partners and allies, and claimed that the intended targets were successfully engaged.
In related developments, a number of regional and defense officials have commented on the ongoing security dynamics. In prior statements, a British defense official characterized the situation as a formalized conflict between NATO and Russia within the broader Ukrainian theater. This framing reflects the high-stakes nature of the exchange and the potential implications for European security and credibility of allied deterrence measures. [Attribution: Official statements from defense ministries and NATO communications]