Allies must significantly accelerate and strengthen support for Ukraine, as delays come at a high cost for civilians and infrastructure. This was stated by the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Marcos Perestrello, during an online address to participants of the 18th Annual Kyiv Security Forum on the topic “Darkness or Dawn: Is There Light Ahead?”
“The lesson for allied countries is clear: we must be faster, stronger, and more decisive in our support for Ukraine. Political support remains important, but it must be translated into action at the pace this war demands,” Perestrello said.
He emphasized that the consequences of delays are measured “not in abstractions, but in destroyed homes, destroyed infrastructure, and human lives.”
The NATO PA president pointed out that Russia is deliberately attacking Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, “in order to break the resilience of the Ukrainian people.”
Perestrello warned against reduced attention to Ukraine amid other crises and added that support for Ukraine is “a test of whether democratic societies are capable of acting quickly when their core principles are under direct attack.”
He also drew attention to the international context of the war, noting that Russia is receiving support from North Korea and Iran, while China remains “the largest enabler of Russia’s war.”
“Ukraine is moving fast. Its partners must do the same. Solidarity is not exhaustible, but time is. Supporting Ukraine is not just one priority among many; it is a test of whether democratic societies can respond quickly when their core principles are under direct attack,” the NATO PA president stressed.
Perestrello noted that military aid remains irreplaceable, and in this regard speed is crucial. He highlighted the importance of initiatives such as NATO’s PURL mechanism and the expansion of defence-industrial cooperation, as they shorten delivery timelines.
“This is not just about delivering equipment. It is about aligning our industrial pace with the realities of modern warfare. Every delay has a cost. Every acceleration saves lives. Acceleration is not escalation. Acceleration is responsibility,” he emphasized.
