BRUSSELS: The alliance is committed to assisting Ukraine in defending itself against Russia "for as long as it is necessary" and helping the war-torn nation modernize its military to meet Western standards, according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Will help

Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Romania next week, Stoltenberg urged nations to continue supplying Ukraine with air defense systems and other weapons, singly or collectively. In its official capacity, NATO does not provide arms.

"As long as it takes, NATO will stand by Ukraine. We will not back down," vowed the former Norwegian prime minister. "Allies are providing military assistance that is unprecedented, and I hope the foreign minister will agree to increase non-lethal support as well."

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Germany said on Friday it was discussing the request with allies, after the head of NATO suggested the military alliance might not object to Poland's request that German Patriot air defense units be sent to Ukraine.

How to respond to Poland's suggestion... The suggestion is being discussed with our partners, a spokesman for the German government said in Berlin.

After a stray missile crashed into Poland last week and killed two people, Berlin offered Warsaw the Patriot system to help secure its airspace. Later, German Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak requested that Ukraine receive fire-fighting units.

Such deployments, according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, should be decided by individual countries taking into account end-user regulations. In Brussels, he said, "Specific decisions on specific systems are national decisions.

They sometimes need to talk with other partners because of end user agreements and other issues. However, the decision ultimately needs to be made by national governments, he continued.

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Stoltenberg made his comments after German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Thursday that NATO and allies would need to be consulted in advance if Germany was to share its Patriot units outside the NATO area.

United States-based Raytheon manufactures the Patriots. The location of Patriot air defense units is at Germany's discretion, according to the Polish president, who said that it would be better for Poland's security if they were stationed closer to the Ukrainian border.

Andrzej Duda told a press conference in Kaunas, Lithuania, "From a military point of view, it would be best if they were located in Ukraine to protect Polish territory, as they would defend both Ukraine and Poland most effectively. But the German side must make the final decision.

Later, Duda said Germany could send Patriot units to Ukraine without the need for NATO troops to operate them, something he claims Kyiv has been requesting for some time. Duda posted on Twitter, "But if this is not agreed upon, let them stay here (in Poland) and protect us.

Taking a dig at Berlin, Blaszczak said he was surprised that the German Patriots could be too advanced to move into Ukraine on the fringes of NATO exercises in northeastern Poland.

An official in the recently recaptured city of Kherson said 15 civilians had been killed in Russian shelling on Friday.

Galina Lugova posted on social media that "enemy shelling today killed 15 civilians in the city of Kherson and wounded 35 others, including a child." In the attacks, "several private homes and multi-storey structures were damaged," he continued.

As winter approaches, more supplies will be needed, especially as Russia targets Ukraine's energy infrastructure, according to Stoltenberg, who said members of the 30-nation security organization will provide fuel, generators, medical supplies, winter supplies, and more. equipment and drone jamming devices are distributed. ,

I will ask for more at our meeting in Bucharest, he said. "In the long term, we will help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era standards, doctrine and training to modern NATO standards and standards."

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will meet with other ministers to discuss both his country's immediate needs and the potential long-term assistance offered by NATO. The support, according to NATO's top civilian representative, would facilitate Ukraine's eventual admission to the alliance.

Nearly 15 years after NATO promised that Ukraine and Georgia would eventually join the alliance – a promise that deeply impressed Russia – a meeting will be held in Bucharest on 29-30 November.

The foreign ministers of Bosnia, Georgia and Moldova, three allies that NATO says are under increasing Russian pressure, will also be present at the meeting. According to Stoltenberg, at the meeting NATO will "take further steps to help protect their independence and strengthen their potential".

NATO has strengthened the defences of allies that border Russia and Ukraine since President Vladimir Putin authorised the invasion ten months ago, but it has carefully avoided getting sucked into a larger conflict with a major nuclear power.

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However, Stoltenberg did not compel Ukraine to engage in peace negotiations with Russia, and in fact, NATO and European diplomats have noted that Putin does not appear ready to sit down and negotiate.

Negotiations "end most wars," he asserted. But what transpires on the battlefield affects what happens at the negotiating table. Supporting Ukraine is therefore the best way to raise the likelihood of a peaceful resolution.