Former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has reaffirmed the importance of sustained financial and strategic support for Ukraine during a high-level meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on Thursday.
Speaking at the trilateral meeting, Stoltenberg emphasized the critical need for ongoing international backing for Ukraine as the conflict with Russia drags into its third year. “We need to continue to support Ukraine,” he stated, underlining that such support must go hand-in-hand with diplomatic efforts to find a lasting resolution to the war.
While details of the meeting remain limited, sources close to the discussion indicated that the leaders spoke extensively about the geopolitical stability of Eastern Europe, NATO’s evolving role, and the global economic ripple effects of the war.
Stoltenberg, who concluded his term as NATO’s top official in October 2024, has remained a prominent voice in international security dialogues. His remarks come amid growing debates among Western nations over the sustainability of long-term aid to Ukraine, especially in light of shifting political dynamics in the United States and Europe.
President Trump, who has previously criticized aspects of NATO’s structure and questioned the scale of U.S. aid to Kyiv, reportedly listened attentively as Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Støre both reiterated the strategic necessity of supporting Ukraine not only as a moral imperative but also to maintain regional and global security.
Prime Minister Støre, representing Norway—a strong supporter of Ukraine—echoed Stoltenberg’s sentiment, emphasizing that financial and military aid must remain consistent, even as leaders explore peaceful pathways to end the conflict. “Peace cannot come at the expense of Ukraine’s sovereignty,” he is reported to have said.
The meeting highlights a complex diplomatic balancing act: maintaining military and economic pressure on Russia while keeping open the channels for negotiation. It also signals ongoing efforts by European leaders to engage with key American political figures as the U.S. approaches another presidential election year.
As winter approaches in the region and the war shows no signs of abating, discussions like these are expected to shape the international community’s next steps in responding to the most significant conflict on European soil since World War II.
