Foreign Mins Meeting To Start w/Focus On Level Of Ukraine Support

The NATO foreign ministers' meeting - the first since the NATO summit in Vilnius in July - gets underway in Brussels with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's doorstep comments at 1100CET (0500ET, 1000GMT). Foreign ministers from NATO members will deliver doorstep comments throughout the morning. Stoltenberg then delivers presser alongside US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin III at 1300CET, followed by opening remarks at the North Atlantic Council meeting 30 mins later. End of day presser at 1630CET.

• Livestream to all doorsteps and pressers can be found here.
• On Ukraine: Most will want to signal continued support for Ukraine but obstacles are clear. Hungary demanding reassessment of EU stance and is blocking EUR50bn in long-term funding and EUR500mn in direct military aid. The Israel-Hamas war has clearly diverted some attention from Ukraine. Lack of significant progress in Ukraine summer counteroffensive has led to some concerns of possibility of war dragging on for v. long term.
• On Iran: Stoltenberg stated on 27 Nov, “We have seen drone and rocket strikes on US positions in Syria and Iraq, as well as attacks on commercial shipping. This underlines the risk of escalation. Iran must rein in its proxies.”
• On China: Politico reports"Ministers will also “address the challenges China presents to our security,” according to Stoltenberg. While saying China isn’t an adversary, he added: “Beijing’s actions challenge our security. And we must work together to respond.”
• Meeting continues on 29 Nov with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in attendance.