Nato Countries To Provide Ukraine With Kit To Protect Against Chemical Attacks

Nato countries will agree at today’s emergency summit of the western military alliance to provide special kit to protect Ukraine against any chemical, biological or nuclear attacks launched by Russia.

- Dan Sabbagh Brussels Andrew Roth

Jens Stoltenberg, the organisation’s secretary general, also told Russia to stop engaging in “nuclear sabre-rattling” and repeated warnings the Kremlin could be seeking “a pretext” for using chemical weapon as the war heads into a second month.

“I expect allies will agree to provide additional support” including “equipment to help Ukraine protect against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats”, he said the day before the meeting. The Nato chief declined to spell out exactly what would be supplied, though it is likely to include gas masks and protective suits. But his statement reflects uncertainty across alliance members about Russian intentions as the invasion of Ukraine has stalled on multiple fronts.

Stoltenberg described Russian comments that it would be willing to deploy nuclear weapons if Nato directly entered the conflict as “dangerous and … irresponsible”. On Tuesday, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, said nuclear arms could be used if Moscow thought it faced an “existential threat”.