Preparing for NATO's Worst Crisis... Sending Nuclear and Chemical Attack Protective Equipment to Ukraine

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, announced on the 23rd that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is preparing to send equipment to Ukraine capable of responding to nuclear and chemical weapon attacks.

According to major foreign media on the day, Secretary General Stoltenberg said, "I expect an agreement on additional support for Ukraine at the European Union (EU) summit on the 24th-25th," adding, "We also plan to send protective equipment that can prepare for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks, as well as equipment to help respond to cyberterrorism."

The EU summit is held exactly one month after Russia invaded Ukraine. As Ukraine has mounted stronger resistance than expected, the war has reached a stalemate, raising concerns that Russia may choose extreme attacks to change the course of the war. NATO is preparing for the worst-case scenario.

Secretary General Stoltenberg said, "We are worried that Russia might use chemical and biological weapons," adding, "The use of chemical weapons would completely change the phase of the war and cause tremendous consequences."

U.S. President Joe Biden, visiting Europe in line with the EU summit schedule, also stated, "There is a real risk that Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine."

President Biden arrived late in the afternoon on the 23rd in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. He is scheduled to attend the NATO summit and meet consecutively with EU and Group of Seven (G7) leaders. He is also expected to visit Poland.

After the EU summit, the United States and the EU are expected to announce additional support for Ukraine and further sanctions against Russia. An agreement is also anticipated to deploy four NATO units in Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania.

Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor, said the war will not end easily or quickly and that new financial sanctions and measures to repel Russia's invasion will be included.