On Thursday (3 April 2025), NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska attended an informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Warsaw, hosted by EU High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Polish Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, together with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
Ms Shekerinska stressed that securing lasting peace for Ukraine is essential for European security and for global stability. She called for strengthened support for Ukraine, now and for the long haul, noting that for peace to be lasting, Ukraine must remain strong.
The Deputy Secretary General welcomed recent announcements by NATO Allies of further aid to Ukraine, including air defence, armoured vehicles, drones, and munitions. NATO is also helping to strengthen Ukraine's armed forces for the long-term, including through financial support, NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), and the new NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre in Poland.
Ms Shekerinska commended NATO-EU cooperation, both in Brussels and on the ground, where NSATU works closely with the EU's Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine (EUMAM) to streamline international support for Ukraine. She welcomed the EU's recent initiatives on defence and noted that NATO-EU discussions would continue with High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas, at the upcoming meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers.
