NATO Secretary General Tells Ukrainian Parliament Alliance Support for Ukraine Is Unbreakable
The Secretary General of NATO has delivered a landmark address to Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, reaffirming that Allied support for Ukraine remains firm and unwavering as the war with Russia continues.
Speaking in Kyiv during a harsh winter marked by intensified Russian attacks, the NATO chief praised Ukraine’s resilience, democratic strength, and determination to defend its sovereignty. He described the Verkhovna Rada as the beating heart of Ukrainian democracy, continuing to function despite daily bombardment and years of war.
Recalling a visit to Kharkiv in March 2024, the Secretary General spoke of destroyed buildings, wounded soldiers, and memorials to children killed by Russian aggression. He said the human cost of the war remains a powerful reminder of what is at stake for Ukraine and for Europe’s wider security.
At the same time, he highlighted the resilience of Ukrainian society, pointing to children attending school in metro stations and teachers continuing their work despite constant disruption. According to NATO, this spirit of resistance and hope defines Ukraine’s struggle.
The Secretary General stressed that NATO’s support did not begin in 2022 and has not weakened since. He said the Alliance stood with Ukraine before Russia’s full-scale invasion, on 24 February 2022, and every day since. Claims that Allies would grow tired or distracted, he added, have proven false.
He acknowledged concerns that other global crises could divert attention from Ukraine but made clear that Kyiv remains essential to NATO’s own security. Daily coordination continues through the NATO-Ukraine Council and through NATO’s command structure in Germany, known as SETU, which coordinates military assistance and training.
A central focus of the speech was air defence. The Secretary General confirmed that the Prioritized Ukraine Requirement List, or PERL, has delivered billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment. Since its launch last summer, PERL has provided around 75 percent of missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot systems and 90 percent of missiles used in other air defence platforms.
He urged Allies to dig deeper into their stockpiles, particularly to protect Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure from continued Russian strikes. He also noted that defence production is increasing not only across NATO countries but also inside Ukraine, with several Allies investing directly in Ukraine’s defence industry.
Looking to the future, the NATO chief said lasting peace will require strong security guarantees backed by real military power. He confirmed that the United States, Europe, and Canada are prepared to provide assurances so that Russia cannot repeat its aggression.
Progress on these guarantees was discussed at a recent meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris, attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky and senior Allied leaders. Some European countries have announced plans to deploy troops, aircraft, and naval forces to Ukraine after a peace agreement, with the United States acting as a strategic backstop.
The Secretary General warned against repeating failed arrangements such as the Budapest Memorandum or the Minsk Agreements, stating that peace must be enforced by Ukrainian strength and Allied hard power.
He also referenced the efforts of President Donald Trump and his administration to stop the bloodshed, noting that direct talks are now underway. However, he said ongoing Russian attacks undermine Moscow’s claims of seriousness about peace.
NATO estimates that Russian casualties have exceeded one million, while battlefield advances remain slow and costly. Despite support from China, North Korea, Iran, and Belarus, Russia’s economy is under growing strain from isolation and sanctions pressure.
Concluding his address, the Secretary General said NATO will continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary. He told lawmakers that Ukraine’s security is NATO’s security and that any peace must be just and lasting. Ending with the words “Slava Ukraini,” he urged Ukrainians to remain strong, saying winter will pass and spring will come.
