NATO Holds Emergency Summit on Ukraine Invasion... Discusses Russian Military's Biochemical and Nuclear Weapon Response

30 World Leaders Attend... Discussions on Responses to Russian Biochemical and Nuclear Weapons, Support Measures

U.S. President Joe Biden (center in photo), British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (bottom right in photo), and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (bottom left in photo) attending the NATO emergency summit. Photo by AP/Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) emergency summit opened at 10 a.m. local time on the 24th at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, with leaders from 30 member countries in attendance.

This summit was convened as civilian casualties from Russia's invasion of Ukraine increased and the possibility of the use of biochemical and nuclear weapons grew.

Leaders of NATO allies, including U.S. President Joe Biden, are expected to discuss the possibility of Russian forces using biochemical and nuclear weapons, NATO's response to this, and support for Ukraine from non-NATO countries during the meeting.

Ukraine has consistently demanded the establishment of a no-fly zone over its airspace and the deployment of NATO peacekeeping forces within Ukraine. However, due to the risk of direct conflict between NATO and Russia, the likelihood of these proposals being adopted is low.

The plan to strengthen the rapid response forces rotating through Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia, mentioned under the leadership of the Secretary General, is expected to be approved immediately.

Typically, NATO summits are held annually in the spring. The 30 NATO countries include the United States and Canada in the Americas, and the remaining 28 countries are located across the North Atlantic in Europe. Among these, 14 Eastern European countries, former Warsaw Pact states that were Soviet satellites, joined sequentially starting in 1999 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Before attending the NATO summit via video conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered virtual speeches to the French Senate and National Assembly, as well as the Japanese Parliament, appealing for support for Ukraine.

President Zelensky emphasized, "Russian forces do not distinguish targets as they destroy residential areas, hospitals, schools, and universities," and added, "They do not even consider that they are committing war crimes."