Press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine

President Zelenskyy,
My dear friend Volodymyr,
Thank you for your warm welcome.
Thank you for receiving me and my delegation here in Kyiv.

And as you said this is my third visit after the full scale invasion.
But I also had the privilege of meeting you here in Kyiv, in Brussels,
And several other places several times, also before the full scale invasion.

So let me start by thanking you for the cooperation and the friendship we have developed over all these years,
Both before but not least after the full scale invasion by Russia against Ukraine.

Your leadership is a powerful example to us all.
The bravery of your people and armed forces continues to inspire the whole world.

But leadership and bravery alone cannot repel the Russian forces.
You also need arms and ammunition.

Since the beginning of Russia's invasion, NATO Allies have provided Ukraine with unprecedented support - including 99 percent of all military aid.

At the same time, I know that serious delays in support have meant serious consequences on the battlefield.

For months, the U.S. was unable to agree a package.
And European Allies have been unable to deliver ammunition at the scale we promised.

Ukraine has been outgunned for months - forced to ration its ammunition.
This means that fewer Russian missiles and drones have been shot down.
And Russia has been able to push forward along the front line.

But it is not too late for Ukraine to prevail.
More support is on the way.

So Mister President, you addressed NATO Defence Ministers in the NATO-Ukraine Council I chaired just a few days ago.
Allies heard your clear appeal.
And they agreed to step up our support.

I welcome that the United States has now approved a major new package.
It provides over 60 billion US dollars' worth of aid, including critical air defence and artillery ammunition.

The U.K. has just announced its largest delivery yet - including dozens of combat boats, hundreds of vehicles, thousands of missiles, and millions of rounds of ammunition.
Germany will deliver an additional Patriot system.
The Netherlands is contributing an additional 4 billion euros.
Other Allies are looking into what more they can do.
And I expect new announcements soon.

So we are working hard to meet Ukraine's urgent needs.
And I have been clear that if Allies face a choice between meeting NATO capability targets or support to Ukraine,
They should support Ukraine.
And put plans in place to refill their stockpiles.

Stocks can and will be replenished.
Lives lost can never be regained.

To replenish our stocks, we need to produce more.
So I welcome that Allies are stepping up defence production,
And also working to produce together with Ukraine.

Today, we discussed the preparations for the NATO Summit in July.
So Mister President, I look forward to welcoming you to Washington for that meeting.

Allies have already agreed to plan for a greater NATO role in coordinating security assistance and training for Ukraine.
I believe we also need a major, multi-year financial commitment to sustain our support.
To demonstrate that our support to Ukraine is not short term and ad hoc, but long term and predictable.

Moscow must understand: they cannot win.
And they cannot wait us out.

Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO.
Ukraine will become a member of NATO.
The work we are undertaking now puts you on an irreversible path towards NATO membership.
So that when the time is right,
Ukraine can become a NATO member straightaway.

I very much look forward to the day that the Ukrainian flag will fly high at the NATO Headquarters.

So President Zelenskyy,
Dear Volodymyr,
NATO stands with Ukraine.
For your security, and for ours.
Thank you once again.

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