It is necessary to increase production of weapons to protect NATO countries and help Ukraine, - Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that the arms stocks of the alliance countries and the EU have really run out, so it is necessary to increase production in order to ensure the protection of its territory in the future, as well as to have opportunities to help Ukraine.
He stated this at a press conference today, Censor.NET informs with reference to "Interfax-Ukraine".
"Allies from NATO and EU countries have exhausted their reserves because they want to provide support to Ukraine. And this was the right decision because this is also a matter of our security," Stoltenberg said.
He noted that NATO and EU countries managed to provide an "unprecedented volume" of aid to Ukraine for several months.
"But, of course, when stocks are depleted, there is only one long-term solution - to produce more. And that's why NATO defense ministers, during a meeting last fall, decided to increase our stockpiles of weapons and equipment," the NATO Secretary General added.
According to him, it is necessary to ensure that "stocks are sufficient both to protect our own territory and to provide assistance to Ukraine." Source:
https://censor.net/en/n3392391
Meeting in format of "Ramstein" will take place next week, we will discuss the provision of weapons for Ukraine, - Stoltenberg
The meeting of the contact group on the defense of Ukraine will take place next week.
This was reported by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Censor.NET reports with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.
"We will meet next week in Ramstein, in the US-led contact group that provides support to Ukraine. There we will meet with the Ukrainian Minister of Defense to discuss what specific type of weapons are needed and how the Allies can provide these weapons," said the Secretary General of the Alliance.
Also remind, that earlier the Ministry of Defense of Germany informed that the next meeting of the "Ramstein" format will take place on January 20. Source:
https://censor.net/en/n3392381
Soledar is actually destroyed, enemy is trying to advance despite colossal losses - Cherevaty
During the day, Soledar and its surroundings were hit by 86 artillery strikes, and the city was practically destroyed.
This was reported by the spokesman of the Eastern Group of the AFU, Serhii Cherevaty, Censor.NET reports with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.
"Only during this day, 86 shellings by various artillery systems were carried out on Soledar and its surroundings.
The President again yesterday emphasized that the city was actually destroyed, and their (the occupiers. - Ed.) logic of the war was not understood, because to capture the ruins, as it happened before in Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, placing countless of their troops, is in the military art, and especially modern, 21st-century art, is very strange," he said.
Cherevaty noted that the Russians' main method of storming the city now is the use of attack systems, MLRS, barrel artillery, and, at their expense, the advancement of small groups of infantry.
In the area of Bakhmut-Soledar, as emphasized by the AFU, the enemy has concentrated its best specialists, in particular, special forces of the "Wagner" PMC with the support of the regular Russian army.
"It is Soledar's fighters who are holding the city, now they are gaining time and opportunities for the entire defense. Therefore, the enemy suffers huge losses there, but despite this, they still try to move forward, because for them even a small tactical advance is considered a great achievement," he said. Source:
https://censor.net/en/n3392373