Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny did not attend a meeting of the NATO Military Committee on Wednesday, May 10, in Brussels, due to the difficult situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer said during the opening of the meeting, Ukrinform reports..

According to the plan of the meeting of the NATO Military Committee, one of the sessions is devoted to discussing the war in Ukraine. It is expected that the Ukrainian military will take part in the meeting..

“Yesterday I received a letter from the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief, our friend Valery Zaluzhny, that his participation even through a video conference is impossible due to the difficult operational situation in the defense against Russian aggression.. Our best wishes with Ukrainian defenders. We are focused on getting Valery's assessment from his military representative... on the latest developments on the ground, where Ukrainians are fighting for what is rightfully theirs,"

Instead, information on behalf of Ukraine will be presented by the military representative of Ukraine to NATO, Major General Serhiy Salkutsan.

[see_also ids\u003d"

The NATO Military Committee is the supreme military command body of the Alliance, which determines the needs for defense and development of the armed forces to ensure the collective defense of allies in accordance with the political decisions of the leaders of NATO countries. At the meeting today, for the first time, Finland is participating as a member, and Sweden is also represented.

Opening the meeting, Admiral Bauer said that the Alliance is entering a new era of collective defense.

“We collectively defend not only the physical security of our billion people and 31 states, but also the democratic values \u200b\u200bthat we all honor.. The fact that we are able to cooperate, with such a large number of armed forces, such diverse capabilities and cultures, is truly unique in the world,” said the head of the NATO Military Committee.