– We want to make Ukraine stronger and create a vision for the future, Stoltenberg said at a press conference on Friday in Brussels ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius next week.

There will be heads of state and government from across the defense alliance, representatives of partner countries and notably Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj.

– The summit will send a clear message: NATO is united. And Russian aggression will not bear fruit, Stoltenberg believes.

He underlines Ukraine’s desire to eventually become a member of NATO.

– Together we will find how to bring Ukraine closer to the goal, he said.

Three points for Ukraine

The Secretary-General highlights three steps that will help make Ukraine stronger in the fight against Russia. Countries are expected to agree on this point at the summit:

* A multi-year program aimed at ensuring better cooperation between NATO and Ukrainian forces.

* A strengthening of political ties through the creation of a NATO-Ukraine Council, which will meet for the first time in Vilnius.

* A plan for how Ukraine can become a NATO member in the long term.

NATO countries have already promised to provide an additional 500 million euros for emergency aid, fuel, medicines, mine clearance equipment and pontoon bridges in Ukraine, Stoltenberg points out.

[ Pride-trusler på Tiktok: – Dette aksepterer vi ikke ]

Have confidence in Sweden’s progress

The big wild card ahead of the meeting is also Sweden’s bid to become a member of the alliance.

All countries must approve the request, and Turkey still blocks the projects. Stoltenberg previously had a clear ambition to bring the matter to fruition in Vilnius, but this ambition is still relevant today. He has not lost hope.

– We hope that Sweden will join us as soon as possible. Yesterday I held a constructive meeting with senior officials from Turkey, Sweden and Finland, Stoltenberg said.

On Monday, the day before the NATO meeting begins, he will also meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Vilnius.

[ Han mener voksne påfører unge angst ]

New defense plans

Another important NATO initiative to be adopted at the meeting concerns three new comprehensive regional defense plans.

– To carry out these projects, NATO puts 300,000 soldiers on alert, specifies Stoltenberg.

Norway is covered by a plan for the northern regions, the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic.

The Secretary General is clear that Member States must increase their investment in defense to achieve these ambitions.

in 2024, only eleven of the 31 member countries of the alliance will reach the objective of devoting 2% of their GDP to defense. This will also be the theme of the meeting.

– We expect this figure to increase significantly next year, says the Secretary General.

[ – Det er underlig at de store partiene ikke tar tak og viser ledelse ]