NATO says aiding Ukraine cost $165Bln in military funding since 2022
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NATO's Secretary-General estimates that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, military aid topped billions.
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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg talks during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP)
It is estimated that military aid to Ukraine topped 150 billion euros ($165 billion) since February 2022, a statement by NATO said on Thursday.
The NATO statement read that "the Secretary-General underlined that NATO Allies have delivered more than 150 billion euros of support to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022."
NATO states trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and delivered "more jets, tanks, and armored vehicles" to Ukraine as it prepares for an attack, NATO's Secretary-General Jes Stoltenberg, who arrived in Kiev yesterday on Thursday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said in a statement.
Read next: NATO provided Ukraine with over $70bln in military aid: Chief
He reiterated that Ukraine’s place was in NATO but gave no timeline for its accession. He said this would be possible "over time" and assured Zelensky that alliances with Ukraine for the long haul to help it transition to NATO standards and ensure its full interoperability with allies.
Earlier, it was revealed that NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg paid an unannounced visit to Kiev on Thursday, his first since the war began.
The Kiev Independent newspaper shared images of Stoltenberg in central Kiev, standing in front of a memorial for fallen soldiers. The photographs showed Stoltenberg with his head down in front of the memorial.
Stoltenberg also welcomed the start of deliveries of Western tanks and other armored vehicles to Ukraine. "This can make a real difference on the front lines," he underlined.
