NATO Meets to Discuss Defense Aid to Sustain Ukraine Through Winter: Live Updates

BUCHAREST, Romania — Antony J. Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, and the top diplomats from more than 30 European nations are meeting on Tuesday in Romania to coordinate how the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will bolster Ukraine’s war efforts against Russia over the harsh winter.

The officials plan to discuss further weapons shipments to Ukraine, as well as how to help repair Ukraine’s electricity grid and defend the country’s critical infrastructure against relentless missile, artillery and drone attacksRussian military.

A senior State Department official, who was on Monday with Mr. Blinken, stated that the United States will announce an emergency cash aid package to Ukraine for its energy infrastructure requirements.

“NATO is stronger and more united than at any time I can remember,” Mr. Blinken said at a news conference on Tuesday with Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance’s secretary general, before the meeting. “We will be reaffirming our support for Ukraine as we go forward.”

Mr. Blinken had separate meetings Tuesday morning with top Romanian officials. He indicated that the United States would support Romania’s efforts to achieve energy independence and build its military capability, which would be compatible with its allies.

The two-day meeting foreign ministersBucharest is the capital of Romania and a NATO member. It shares a border area with Ukraine. This meeting is expected to set the stage for how the alliance will continue its support to Ukraine during winter, when military gains may be restricted by the cold. millionsMany Ukrainian civilians do not have access to the Internet. electricity and waterRussian strikes caused infrastructure damage.

“NATO will continue to stand for Ukraine as long as it takes,’” Mr. Stoltenberg saidas diplomats gathered. “We will not back down.”

Another State Department official said the Russian military is using missiles and drones to hit Ukraine’s transmission grid, including high-voltage transformer stations, because those are more vulnerable than power generation sites. He estimated that 25 to 30 percent of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been damaged.

American and European officials believe that Russia’s President Vladimir V. Putin is trying to undermine the morale of Ukrainians through depriving them essential utilities in winter, when the average temperature across Ukraine drops below freezing. Russian military has been suffering major setbacksIn the face of Ukrainian offensives in recent weeks, the city of Strategic Southern was forced to withdraw. KhersonThe Kharkiv Region in the northeast.

So far, NATO countries have not been able to do so provided some $40 billion in weaponry to Ukraine, roughly the size of France’s annual defense budget. But Ukraine has been tearing through stockpiles, setting off a scramble to supply the country with what it needs while also replenishing NATO members’ arsenals. Many Western-made howitzers are breakingBecause of the speed at which Ukrainian troops are using it.

This week’s meeting will also discuss how to better protect member countries that are closest to Ukraine, such as Poland and Romania from any possible spillover from conflict. This month, NATO leaders claimed that a missile was being launched from Ukraine. fired by Ukraine’s air defenseTwo civilians were murdered in southeastern Poland.

Both the foreign ministers of Sweden (and Finland) are expected to attend, along with top diplomats from Ukraine and Georgia.

In 2008, President George W. Bush encouraged members of NATO to attend a meeting in Bucharest. to promise Ukraine and GeorgiaPossible membership but no timeline. Officials state that both countries are far from being eligible for membership, but are critical partners in NATO.

The U.S. State Department and Mr. Stoltenberg also stated that they would be discussing the matter with officials. global challenges posed by China, Russia’s most powerful strategic partner.