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In a visit to Kyiv on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine is \u201cgradually gaining ground\u201d in its counteroffensive against Russia.<\/p>\n
\u201cUkrainians are fighting for their families, their future, their freedom; Moscow is fighting for imperial delusions,\u201d\u00a0Stoltenberg\u00a0said Thursday<\/a>. \u201cMeanwhile, Russia is diminished on the world stage, cut off from international markets, staying home from international summits, and reduced to seeking arms from regimes like Iran and North Korea.\u201d<\/p>\n Stoltenberg met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the war\u2019s status and the country\u2019s need for troops.<\/p>\n Kyiv\u2019s counteroffensive has been making steady progress, with Ukrainian infantry and armor both breaking through Russia\u2019s main defensive line in recent weeks, though the effort faces time pressure<\/a> as winter nears.<\/p>\n The meeting also comes one day after Russia accused Ukraine\u2019s Western allies<\/a> of helping plan and carry out last week\u2019s missile strike on the headquarters of its Black Sea Fleet.<\/p>\n In recent months, Ukraine has ramped up its attacks<\/a> in Russia, specifically in the capital city of Moscow where it seeks to increase domestic pressure on the Kremlin.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, Mr. Secretary General and I discussed all the key defense issues that require attention: the real situation on the battlefield and the needs of Ukrainian warriors,\u201d Zelensky said in a statement, adding that he is \u201cconfident\u201d Ukraine can bring more pressure on Russia.<\/p>\n A statement from Zelensky\u2019s office said the two leaders floated the idea of NATO member states supplying Kyiv with additional air defense systems. Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has asked for advanced warplanes for its troops. Last month, the U.S. approved the transfer<\/a> of F-16s to Ukraine from the Netherlands and Denmark.<\/p>\n Stoltenberg reiterated Western allies\u2019 commitment to providing Ukraine with the necessary means to repel Russian invasion, while vowing to train pilots for the F-16 aircrafts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe stronger Ukraine becomes, the closer we will get to ending Russian aggression,\u201d\u00a0Stoltenberg said, according to Zelensky\u2019s office.<\/p>\n Zelensky and Stoltenberg also discussed Ukraine\u2019s relationship with NATO, with Stoltenberg emphasizing NATO\u2019s backing of Ukraine, telling Zelensky \u201cthe stronger Ukraine becomes, the closer we will get to ending Russian aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n NATO has held back on providing a clear timeline<\/a> for Kyiv gaining membership in the Western security alliance, despite Zelensky\u2019s repeated requests.<\/p>\n This served as a point of contention during the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July, where NATO instead offered strengthened support to Ukraine, a new council to specifically work with Kyiv and the removal of a procedural step for joining the alliance.<\/p>\n Zelensky\u2019s office said the leaders discussed the NATO-Ukraine Council, as well as establishing a new document to \u201cdetermine practical steps and standards of the alliance.\u201d<\/p>\n For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n