Admiral Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, visited Ukraine on 7 and 8 February 2025 in his first official foreign visit since assuming the role, underscoring NATO’s ongoing commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and defence, according to a NATO statement.
During his visit, Admiral Dragone toured a military hospital in Kyiv, meeting Ukrainian soldiers injured on the front lines. He also held discussions with Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and Andriy Sybiha, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On 8 February, Admiral Dragone met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, General Oleksandr Syrsky, Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s Minister of Defence. He also visited a Ukrainian weapons factory to assess the capabilities of the country’s long-range weaponry.
During these engagements, the Admiral reaffirmed NATO’s enduring support for Ukraine, stating: “It is in the political and military interest of the Alliance to support Ukraine, not only now, but also in the future. You are fighting not only for your nation. You are fighting for your identity. NATO stands with you.”
He added that the Alliance’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would remain unwavering, and that cooperation aims to “put Ukraine in the strongest possible position moving forward.”
The visit also highlighted new initiatives designed to enhance NATO-Ukraine collaboration, such as the establishment of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) command in Wiesbaden, Germany, and the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center (JATEC) in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
The centres are focused on incorporating lessons learned from Russia’s ongoing war of aggression and integrating them into NATO strategy, policy, and interoperability efforts.
“These lessons will help shape our understanding of warfare,” Dragone said. “Above all, they support Ukraine in winning the war and maintaining its sovereignty.” The Admiral praised the determination and resilience of the Ukrainian people, noting their “unbreakable spirit” and emphasising NATO’s continued role in supporting Ukraine’s long-term security and defence needs.
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Hegseth, the new but completely unqualified US Defence Secretary (he has never commanded any military force whatsoever) has just capitulated to two of Putin’s maximalist demands. Speaking at a meeting of Ukraine’s military allies at NATO headquarters in Brussels today, Hegseth undercut any ceasefire talks by vetoing NATO membership for Ukraine before they have begun. Secondly, he stated bluntly that there can be no return to the 2014 borders, thus ceding Crimea to Putin – again before any talks.
The world tried appeasing a militarist dictator before, in the 1930’s. It did not end well. Putin now has no incentive whatsoever to engage in ceasifire talks, he has got what he wanted already. Putin will be absolutely delighted
Exactly. This sadly is what I suspected would happen all along. Putin would simply wait it out until someone got bored or wouldn’t fund Kyiv any longer.
And with this all but achieved, thanks to Trump, he can then start to reconstruct his forces, learn from their mistakes and then go again against Moldova or any or all of the Baltic states.
Hegseth has left NATO looking like a lame duck. Europe needs to spend big, fast and do its own thing now if it hopes to deter further Putin expansionism.
And what a terrible waste of Ukrainian lives to spend the last 3 years fighting, for a giant orange man baby and his worshipers to now throw them to the wolves. But at least he’s not planning to take over what’s left of Ukraine and turn it into a Las Vegas of Europe or something – yet.
Yep. The great Trumpian rollover to Russian demands has begun. He also stated that any possible European peacekeeper force will not be Nato mandated or carry Article 5 protection if attacked by Russia on Ukrainian soil.
This from the only Nato power who invoked Article 5 following the 9/11 attacks .
Hegseth has a Combat InfantryMan’s Badge, two bronze stars and two tours in a combat zone, one as a platoon commander with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq; but that is obviously nothing compared to the qualifications of John Healey, Minister of Defense for the UK, political hack extraordinaire.
You have every right to disagree with Hegseth, who is speaking for his Commander in Chief and the majority of Americans, but you have no right to demean and diminish his military service.
Hegseth’s limited, low level military experience in no way qualifies him to be the Defence Secretary of the largest and most powerful military force on the planet. He got the job because he’s a Trump sycophant and will do and say what he’s told. Hegseth was confirmed in a vote along party lines, with 51 voting in favor and 50 against. Three Republicans broke with their party to oppose his nomination, he was only confirmed after Vice President Vance cast a tie-breaker in favour.
Trump has announced that teams from Russia and America will negotiate a cease-fire. The announved American team does not include a single Ukraine representative. Whatever is “agreed” will be a sell-out, but just like the Gaza ceasefire negotiated by Biden in the dying days of his presidency, Trump will claim the credit. Putin will be appeased by being gifted with land taken from a neigbour by force. Round two will be the Balkan countries
His military service is crap because he is a Fascist traitor to western civilization like all Trump supporters.
Europe and China have a joint GDP 35-40% higher than the USA. We are also far more popular with the rest of the world who make up the other 62-63% of world trade. We need to talk to them about our joint enemy in the White House.
We need to make the USA regret first betraying us all in Afghanistan, and now again in Ukraine.
Generals Mattis and Milley to name just two were also highly decorated and qualified soldiers, but that didn’t prevent Trump and his MAGA hacks from smearing and demeaning their reputations.and service records..
Mattis sold his soul to the contractors and the dc blob even before he was picked (notably at the behest of establishment senators). Miley was a traitor who conducted unauthorized talks with China and circumvented the national command authority (which would be why sleepy joe pardoned him in advance) had he been a nameless grunt he would be spending the rest of his overweight life in Leavenworth federal prison.
Yet another clueless Trumpian hack swallowing the lies of your narcissistic lying Russian apologist president.
So it is a lie that Mattis was on the payroll GD and numerous think tanks? Miley admitted to talking to the Chinese chief of staff without the knowledge and permission of the president, in addition to assuring Pelosi that he would work to countermand the orders of his lawful superior (the President).
Funny note your name screen name is the very name for the set of laws that prevents the Guard and Army from being used without the authorization of the President.
And what was your service Lloyd? 31st keyboard brigade?
What’s that got to do with the price of fish?
He questioned qualifications. Therefore what are his? Question opinions all you want but if you bring qualifications you must have at least a equivalent amount on your cv
If you got on an aeroplane and discovered the baggage handler was about to fly the plane, would you not feel qualified to question their suitability on account of not being a pilot yourself?
D Lloyd— Tulsi is more pro Russia
The UK and France have to get a grip and lead the European response to Hegseth’s statement.
The UK is very good at talking about leadership, actually delivering, not so much.
Well, who else? As you say, Starmer and Healey need to put their money where their mouth is.
Firstly its not their money it’s ours. Personally I have no issue spending it on defence. But even if Starmer could get Reeves to somehow create some growth and bank a bit more cash for defence recent survey has shown no one actually wants to fight for their country.
Growth is a problem. As I understand it the govt has committed to a strategy of transformation of the economy which exchanges bursts of short term demand lead growth for more sustainable supply lead growth. If they don’t want to increase borrowing or tax rises they will have to find extra from savings. I think we will see some stealth tax increases like council tax.
The decline in our sense of national identity is what underlies the result of the defence survey. Its a fundamental problem. People don’t feel commitment to the country, or in many cases even feel a sense of responsibility to work for a living!
Phil C_—- the Orange baby had tremendous approval in recent polls. So, not just old Donnie but all of worshippers of Maga. But he does want to take Ukraine for the minerals, he demands $500 billion for the war costs. Those valuable lands provide assets to buy Greenland and put up casinos on the Gaza beach. He knows all about NY real estate frauds.
These statements out of NATO are utter nonsense and do not reflect the reality of the situation, they have never been given the weapons or ammunition at the time or at the levels needed to win the war in the first year before Russia could become properly entrenched with far larger troops numbers like they are now, leaving Ukraine without the ability to remove the invaders. What benefit is there to an endless war no one wants to help them actually win ?
Drip feeding weapons and training to allow them to lose slowly whilst not committing any forces either is not standing with them, it’s Europe/US using them as a bufferzone and political capital whilst trying to gain increased relevance on the world stage, in reality all it has shown is that countries are on their own if they are attacked as countries are only really interested when a war is directly impacting them. The economic and industrial and technological power of NATO/Europe far exceeds that of Russia and could have been used to make a difference if they actually wanted to.
All of this damages the credibility and influence of the West and its rules based order, especially when you know that Western countries don’t have the political will or in most cases military power to make a difference anymore.
Yep. Russia could gave been stopped very early on had the West actually committed. Infact it was Biden emphasis that US was with drawing its training troops and the only penalty for Russia would be sanctions gave Russia the green light.
The US Secretary Defence latest statements should be a clear message and wake up call to the U.K. and the rest of Europe that they need to stand on their own and will not be getting the support they have relied up on to underfund their own militaries, but in reality this is the best thing the US could do for Europe if you look at it sensibly.
It will be a shock at first for the U.K. and Europe, it will be painful suddenly being forced to spend more on defence and rebuild forces to adequate levels for the defence of Europe. Short term there will be risks but long term Europe has the ability to become self sustaining again in terms of its military and industrial base. It should never have been allowed to get like this in the first place and will be righting a wrong of the last 30 years.
Outsourcing defence has allowed our industrial bases and militaries to become inadequate and enrich US based defence companies and allow US dominated agendas, reliance leads to following the party line and do what is expected of you to maintain that support even if it is not in your interest.
Once Europe is self sufficient again in defence, it can regain it’s independence in terms of foreign policy, military power, industrial base and trade. European countries will no longer need solely US centric foreign policy or follow their global agenda, they can work with any country they choose including other superpowers that want to be reasonable and provide mutual benefits.
If Europe regains its defence autonomy and can protect itself, defence should be mutually beneficial and if the US no longer wants to help protect Europe they should reconsider US bases in Europe. A European version of NATO would be more suitable in place of NATO if Europe no longer gets any benefit of non European countries as there is no point aiding others wars if they won’t help you protect your own country.
If Europe actually takes advantage of this new reality it has the opportunity to regain full autonomy and protect its own interests while re-strengthening its position globally, but this will require a change of course from the past few years since the war in Ukraine hasn’t seemed to be much of a catalyst for most.
Lot of words to say that the US govt is a traitorous entity
I agree, so frustrating to hear year after year about European defence has to be organised through NATO from naive Govt after naive Govt when a pan European force built strong and within NATO but powerful within its own right has always been the best bet, certainly since 2014 when surely even before Trump expecting automatic US defence guarantees was becoming less and less reliable. Putin’s policy has always been to break the US/Europe alliance because he sees Europe as a patsy and u prepared to defend itself under Russian threat. We can only be a little relieved that this strategy has finally been revealed to us all (apart from the village idiots) in its starkness at least the doing is probably at Russias weakest in decades but it only gives us some time to get our act together. However if the right wingers get in they will be looking to appease Russia and if that happens we are all lost. As for the US if present policies take route the apparent mask of strength Trump and President Musk wish to show will be illusionary, delusional and short lived and for internal consumption only. The reality is it will greatly empower China and its acolytes in all parts of the World and enable Russia to rebuild enough to continue as Chinas attack dog which of course as a combination threatens both sides of the pond even if MAGA just don’t get it.
So yep no option is now great but the least bad one is Europe getting its act together and build its strength as independently as possible.had it not been America Europe could have developed a currency and economic world community akin to BRICS but cowtowing to the US has thwarted European efforts out in the wider World and now we see the results. Big de isions have to be made and Europe at the very least needs to be a vicious porcupine that even Russia won’t want to mix with even as it barks. We don’t know how weak Putin is but can’t rely on any weakness continuing and we need Ukraine as part of a growing pan European power block economically and militarily, separate from NATO. Trump wants the rare earth deposits in Ukraine, that’s his Gaza solution but in this case we need to use it as keeping the US economically tied to an independent Ukraine even if it smells nasty but it will likely keep the US engaged, Ukraine protected and independent from NATO we can create a European defence solution that preserves us all with Ukraine and Poland as serious bulwarks. If it works as you say it might work out better for Europe if only a semblance of ninth can be maintained. For Britain we need to get real and realise that Farages race to become effectively a US colony is apart for Quislings like him a pointless exercise that gets increasingly gets worse. If we don’t know by now how even trade deals with them is like waving paper from aeroplane steps then when will we. After all Trump asked who the idiots were who wrote the worst ever Canada/Mexico ones when it was him back in 2019 when he described them as the best ever. So not worth anything but to make us a compliant puppet.
That’s very much what we have been building with the JEF since 2014. If we bring in Poland then the JEF becomes what NATO should have been but without all the politically weak countries like USA, Hungary, Turkey and Germany.
The JEF is a solid unit with up to 500,000 soldiers to call on. More than a match for Russia and the JEF countries are positioned just a few miles away from Russia’s main naval base and second biggest city.
1) There is nothing stopping the JEF offering Ukraine membership. This will give them a high degree of security , especially from the countries who would be Russia next target.
2) it bolsters the JEF by including Europe’s largest and most capable army.
3) we should invite alliances with South Korea, Japan and Australia who must now be feeling very exposed on US stance, it would also give Europe access to South Korea’s military complex..
4) it should be made very plain to the Americans that if Europe is no longer their problem , then China is no longer NATOs.
5) every effort and I mean every effort should be made to develop and equip European forces with European weapons not American .
Finally unfortunately we have no choice but to buy F35 for the carriers but Tempest should not be designed to be easily Navalised.
So because US after decades of funding Europe’s defence say you know what how about you guys chip in a bit more we in Europe childishly throw our toys out the pram and say fine go home and take your own bat and ball with you we’ll get our own. We all appear to have forgotten Europe in its current form wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for our friends innthd US.
No, not that at all. Europe says, ok, we will tool up and look after our own defence. BUT, seen as Trump and Americans like a deal, how about we renegotiate this arrangement where trade is done on US preferential terms and we all look the other way whilst the US prints endless dollars to fund itself? You say friends, but friendly countries don’t throw their weight around with bullying threats to invade allies whilst waging pointless trade wars on them. China, whilst certainly to be held at arms length, looks like a more stable and lucrative partner.
No it’s because the USA is trying to force Ukraine to surrender on unfavourable terms to placate a dictator of a failed nation that has close to no military capability left.
It’s about the same as when they surrendered to the Taliban.
If America does not want to help in Ukraine it should just fuck off and leave it to Europe which is more than capable of supporting Ukraine.
The orange man’s interventions are not required.
As much as I agree, currently the European defence base cannot support Ukraine needs however I think there is an opportunity to buy what is needed from South Korea in exchange for security guarantees. After what looks like Trump is going to throw Ukraine under the bus. South Korea must be nervous .
Yet Trump seems happy to sell out UKR to his buddy Putin. All he’s doing is allowing Putin to swallow UKR bite by bite. As soon as Putin has consolidated the territories he’s stolen & rebuilt his forces, he’ll be nibbling away at his next UKR objective.
The man’s a coward.
Selling out the Palestinians too. We’re heading for disaster if we let this orange simpleton lead.
Interesting reading comments on here re Trump US Ukraine etc. Lots of blame. I say it cause and effect cause European voters not demanding their political class prioritise defence effect US voters stop seeing many European countries as reliable defence partners and decide to put America first. Yes Trump is terrible but Europe is complicit in him getting into power.
I think that’s stretching the word ‘complicit’ to its absolute limit.so much so it snapped. Trump is without doubt a dangerous incumbent of the White House and I don’t think there’s (m)any Western European governments or populous that really wanted him elected…and those that do are either stupid or naive (or scared)…
Well, thank God they didn’t get a vote. Because the alternative was a talentless shrew who couldn’t have led the navy and marine corps into a subic bay whorehouse.
Hopefully Trump can draw on his significant military experience of bone spurs as he leads the charge into oblivion. Anyway, by your own standards, above, don’t you need to be a lawyer to question to competency of that ‘talentless shrew’?
She lost an election the whole mainstream media and every establishment/european politician said she couldn’t. That is the only competency needed to determine her talentless, all that is needed to make her a shrew is 5 minutes listening to her word salads.
I don’t recall the MSM saying she couldn’t lose, nor any European politicians saying such. Do you genuinely only get your news from Twitter or are you just a troll? Can you explain the Trump story about being eaten by a shark or electrocuted, as I didn’t quite understand WTF the President was on about. I think it relates to foreign policy?
The irony is, they are not “putting America first”, they are putting America on its own. The US may think it’s an unstoppable top dog, but I suggest that is dangerous delusion.
I absolutely agree with “Europe at the very least needs to be a vicious porcupine that even Russia won’t want to mix with even as it barks.”!
War is over on the Ostfront, all eyes are now on the Dragon.
Propaganda, fear and ideology have worked out a treat, expect more of the same. Welcome to the Idiocracy.
Love and peace ❤️☮️
Europe has a choice. To insist that they and Ukraine have a seat at the table or be on the menu while Putin and his pet carve up Europe.
American surrender and appeasement
25 % tariffs, 5% defense spending or let Putty do whatever he wants, take over Ukraine minerals, annex Greenland, assimilate Canada, buy expensive US energy / not cheap Russian… ….. So, who is the worst enemy?? Russia, China, US?
Yourselves