NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and the needs of troops. This meeting occurred shortly after Russia accused Ukraine's Western allies of aiding in a recent missile strike on the Black Sea Fleet's headquarters in Crimea, which Russia annexed.

During the meeting, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of additional air defense systems to protect Ukraine's power plants and energy infrastructure, which were severely damaged by Russian attacks last winter. Stoltenberg assured Zelenskyy that NATO has contracts for €2.4 billion ($2.5 billion) in ammunition for Ukraine, including shells, anti-tank guided missiles, and tank ammunition.

🇺🇦 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during an unannounced visit to Kiev that Ukrainian forces are "gradually gaining strength" in their counteroffensive against Russian forces.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky,… pic.twitter.com/Xw0IwRrsf7

— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) September 28, 2023

He also expressed his belief that a stronger Ukraine would bring an end to Russia's aggression and emphasized NATO's support for Ukraine's future membership in the trans-Atlantic military alliance. The potential membership of Ukraine in NATO is viewed by the Kremlin as an existential threat, and Russia has cited this as one of the reasons for its invasion.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed that the recent missile strike on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters had been coordinated with the help of U.S. and U.K. security agencies, and she alleged NATO's involvement as well. France's defense minister also met with Zelenskyy to discuss how to continue supporting Ukraine's war effort.

France has donated various weapons and support to Ukraine but aims to explore alternative ways to sustain the country's military capabilities without depleting its own defenses. U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps reaffirmed the British government's unwavering support for Ukraine and pledged to provide additional ammunition.

He empathized with the pain and suffering endured by Ukraine and expressed a desire to see a resolution in line with Ukraine's wishes. Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine is working on a plan to align itself with the principles and standards of NATO. He emphasized the importance of allies agreeing that Ukraine does not need an action plan for NATO membership.

While NATO members pledged greater support for Ukraine during the annual summit, they stopped short of extending an invitation for membership. However, they did commit to removing obstacles to expedite Ukraine's membership process once the conflict with Russia is resolved.

Stoltenberg addressed the remains of drones similar to those used by Russia found near the Romanian border, stating that there is no evidence of intentional attacks by Russia against NATO members, but emphasizing that Russia's actions in the region are reckless and destabilizing.

NATO is increasing its troop presence, air policing, and surveillance along its eastern borders, including Romania, to defend all its allies. In Moldova, authorities are investigating the origin of a rocket found in Harbovat Lake near the Ukrainian border. The remains were detonated in an effort to determine its source.