NATO to keep sending defensive weapons to Ukraine, despite Russia’s threats

NATO allies will keep sending defensive weapons to Ukraine as it fights off a Russian invasion mounted by President Vladimir Putin, US Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin, said Wednesday, while arriving to meet with his NATO counterparts, as per Reuters. 

He also said the allies remained unanimous in supporting Kyiv. Austin said, “We remain united in our support of Ukraine”, and added, “We condemn Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion … We support their (the Ukrainians’) ability to defend themselves and will continue to support them”. He concluded that NATO remained firm in its pledge to defend all allies. 

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Notably, Ukraine is not a member of NATO yet and has recently cooled to the idea of joining the military organization with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky saying sometime back that NATO wouldn’t stand up to Russia. 

His statements come after the organization refused to impose a no-fly zone despite Russian shelling. The US also clamped down on sending MiGs to Ukraine, despite Zelensky’s requests, and instead praised the nation’s creative defences. 

However, these refusals have come due to NATO’s stance on not engaging directly with Russian troops. They have remained committed to helping Ukraine and ensuring the safety of member nations. To that end, the US promised to send military aid to Ukraine, with President Joe Biden’s government also okaying other relief packages. 

Russia warned the US not to send weapons to Ukraine, saying that the convoys would be legitimate targets. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, “We warned the United States that pumping Ukraine with weapons from a number of countries orchestrated by them is not just a dangerous move, but these are actions that turn the corresponding convoys into legitimate targets”. Biden already spoke against that, and now the US Secretary of Defense has echoed his views.

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Notably, Biden and several top-placed individuals in the West have been counter-sanctioned by Russia for being ‘Russophobic’, which is to strongly dislike Russia and things pertaining to the nation, including the customs and political system of the erstwhile Soviet Union.