Delivery of defense materials to Ukraine continues uninterrupted – NSATU Deputy Commander
The NATO Security Assistance and Training Initiative for Ukraine (NSATU) is operating without interruption despite political developments, ensuring Ukraine receives the necessary defense materials.
This was stated in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung by NSATU Deputy Commander General Mike Keller, as reported by Ukrinform.
According to Keller, about 350 people work at the NSATU headquarters in Wiesbaden. Approximately 18,000 tons of supplies are transshipped monthly through logistics centers in Poland and Romania, delivered to Ukraine by road, rail, and air transport.
“We're talking about roughly 65,000 logistical movements by road, rail, and air since Western support for Ukraine began in 2022 – and there hasn't been a single significant incident,” the general noted.
He emphasized that continuity of support is paramount. Americans will continue supplying critical equipment, while European countries and Canada will fund it.
“This fits with the overall trend that Europeans must assume more responsibility for their security and defense, the key phrase being the five percent defense spending target … And when you see the commitment of the Americans here, including their personal involvement, then there's no doubt that they are fully committed. the general added.
He rejected suggestions that current negotiations around the U.S. peace plan are affecting the NSATU mission.
“We focus on our core mission: coordinating military support for Ukraine. Of course, we follow political events and discussions, but they do not directly impact our work,” Keller said.
The general explained that NSATU’s main mission is coordinating NATO assistance to Ukraine in three areas.
First, support – supplying weapons, ammunition, and equipment. Partners, together with the Ukrainian side, identify needs and find ways to meet them. This can happen bilaterally between individual states and Ukraine, as well as through NATO processes or the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (the “Ramstein format”), which includes 57 countries and the EU.
There is also a NATO Trust Fund, led by the UK, to which countries contribute, through which smaller deliveries are organized. This structure also supports the operation of repair centers in Ukraine, Keller added.
Second, training coordination. About 250 courses and training sessions are organized, some lasting several weeks. The largest provider is EUMAM UA – the EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine.
Third, force development support. This involves the long-term development of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Keller noted that partners aim to ensure Ukraine has the best possible negotiating position. They support Ukraine’s strategy of striking military targets in Russia at long range.
“This is part of the capability development we support. Beyond Western weapons, the Ukrainian defense industry is increasingly developing capabilities to hit precisely such targets and perhaps even bring the Russians to the negotiating table,” said the NSATU deputy commander.
According to him, despite massive air attacks and ground offensives, Russian forces cannot achieve a decisive breakthrough, due to the adaptability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“Ukrainians compensate very well for unequal force dynamics through innovation and agility. Drones in the air and on the ground are a very good example of this,” the general said.
He estimated Russian losses at about 30,000 per month, roughly one-third killed, one-third seriously wounded, and one-third lightly wounded. Keller recalled that the Soviet army lost about 14,500 soldiers over ten years of the Afghan war.
That is “a number now being reached in Ukraine in about six weeks. This is insane and demonstrates the inhumanity of Russia's actions,” emphasized the NATO general.
As previously reported, the NATO Security Assistance and Training Initiative for Ukraine (NSATU) is an Alliance command established to provide long-term, structured support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces through the combined efforts of NATO member countries and partners.
NSATU was agreed upon at the NATO summit in Washington in July 2024, to coordinate the delivery of military equipment and training support from allies and partners to Ukraine.