Special Representative

NATO expands its presence in Kiev

(Bild: APA/AFP/Gints Ivuskans)

NATO is further expanding its civilian presence in Ukraine. The alliance states have decided to send a special representative to Kiev to coordinate political and practical support there.

The main reason for this is that NATO intends to launch a new mission to coordinate arms deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces at next week's summit in Washington. The headquarters for this is to be set up in Wiesbaden in Germany. It is still unclear who this special representative will be. Further details will be communicated after the official selection, it is said.

The USA (pictured here is Secretary of State Lloyd Austin with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov) has so far led the way in coordinating arms aid for Ukraine.

(Bild: APA/AP)

The military alliance has had an official representation in Kiev for almost a decade, which also manages a liaison office and an information and documentation center that has existed since the end of the 1990s. Among other things, it handles contacts with Ukrainian ministries and authorities and aims to promote political dialog and practical cooperation between NATO. It also advises authorities on activities to support the NATO-Ukraine partnership and reforms in the security and defense sector. There will also be more staff for this in future.

Preparations for a possible Trump presidency
The coordination of weapons deliveries and training activities, which NATO intends to take over in future, has so far been the responsibility of the United States. The NATO project is also seen as a precautionary measure in the event that Donald Trump returns to the US presidency in January 2025. Statements made by the Republican in the past have raised doubts as to whether the USA will continue to support Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia under his leadership.