Ukraine's request for weapons from NATO is clear.

• Since February, when Russia invaded Ukraine without provocation, NATO military alliance members have been providing Kyiv with weapons.
• Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister, believes more needs to be done.
• On Wednesday, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stated: "It is essential that we prepare for the future."

Ukraine has requested more weapons from NATO to defend against future aggression from Russia.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, NATO allies have been providing Kyiv with weapons, including the U.S., which supplied anti-aircraft Stingers, thousands of anti-tank weapons, and millions of rounds of ammunition.

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister, believes more needs to be done.

Kuleba stated in Brussels, Belgium, that his agenda was straightforward with only three items: weapons, weapons, and weapons.

The Ukrainian army and nation have shown their ability to fight and win in recent months and weeks. However, without adequate and continuous supplies of all requested weapons, these victories will come at a great cost.

Earlier this week, the Czech Republic became the first NATO member to reveal the deployment of tanks to Ukraine.

At a critical juncture in the conflict, Ukraine seeks greater tangible assistance.

On Wednesday, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stated that Russia is transferring troops from northern Ukraine to strengthen their positions in the east.

President Putin's objective is to attempt to control the entirety of Donbas and establish a land bridge, as evidenced by his actions. There is no indication that he has altered his goal of controlling the entirety of Ukraine and rewriting the international order.

“We need to be prepared for the long haul.”

Energy sanctions

At NATO's headquarters, discussions took place on Thursday about the potential ban on Russian oil in the EU.

The imposition of sanctions on Russian energy is a divisive issue for Europe, which heavily relies on Moscow for its gas, oil, and to a lesser extent, coal.

This week, the 27-member bloc has been striving to halt the import of Russian coal due to growing evidence of atrocities committed by Russian troops.

An EU official, who wished to remain anonymous due to the confidentiality of the negotiations, stated that this is likely to occur from August onwards.

A potential ban on Russian oil is gaining traction.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, stated on Tuesday that they are considering implementing additional sanctions, such as restrictions on oil imports, and are reviewing proposals from member states, including taxes or specific payment methods like an escrow account.

On Monday next week, EU foreign affairs ministers will discuss an oil ban. Consensus among all 27 member states is necessary to proceed with additional sanctions.

While Russia accounted for 36.5% of the EU's oil imports in 2020, it was responsible for an even larger share of its gas imports, at 41.1%. However, only 19.3% of the EU's coal imports came from Russia.