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Ukraine Urges NATO to Deter Growing Threat From Belarus and Boost Defense Spending
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha joined his allied counterparts at an informal meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, Ukraine’s MFA reported on May 21.
He urged the bloc to seize a decisive moment in the war by increasing pressure on Russia and deterring the growing threats from neighboring Belarus.
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Speaking in the Swedish city of Helsingborg, Sybiha emphasized that Ukraine’s defense is holding strong and that Russia’s numerical advantage is no longer the defining factor on the battlefield.
“To achieve peace, we must focus on three key elements: diplomacy, pressure, and strength,” Sybiha told the allied foreign ministers. “We need a new push for peace efforts while simultaneously reinforcing our special long-range sanctions and other leverage.”
I was pleased to take part in the informal NATO-Ukraine Council ministerial meeting in Helsingborg together with the foreign ministers of NATO allies.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) May 21, 2026
We are at a pivotal moment in the war, and the pressure mounts on Moscow. Ukraine holds the line, and Russia’s manpower is no… pic.twitter.com/EbLbm8aO1b
Addressing the persistent tensions to Ukraine’s north, the Foreign Minister briefed the Council on the escalating threat matrix involving Belarus, urging NATO to take corresponding deterrence measures to prevent Moscow and Minsk from expanding their aggression.
Sybiha also highlighted Ukraine’s evolving role within the European security architecture. “Ukraine is no longer merely asking for help—it is a security contributor, a donor, and a partner ready to share its expertise with allies,” he stated.
Concluding his address, Sybiha called for increased defense spending across the alliance, labeling such investments as the greatest peace dividend of this generation.
He expressed gratitude to Sweden and its Foreign Minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, for hosting the gathering, while praising NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the United States for their leadership, specifically noting last year’s historic “5 percent” defense spending milestone.
The urgent calls for deterrence at the Helsingborg summit follow warnings from NATO leadership regarding joint Russian and Belarusian military exercises. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had recently stated that Moscow would face “devastating” consequences if it deployed nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
Rutte’s remarks coincided with the launch of massive joint maneuvers involving Russian and Belarusian missile forces, aviation, and submarines designed to simulate the logistical preparation and potential use of non-strategic nuclear munitions.
While Minsk insists the drills do not pose a threat to third nations, independent analysts and Western officials view the strategic posturing as a deliberate information operation aimed at discouraging continued international military support for Kyiv.
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