NATO 'will stand with Ukraine' to get long-lasting peace, senior official tells BBC. Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of NATO's military committee, remarked that the alliance is committed to supporting Ukraine 'up to the day in which we will have them sitting around the table for a long-lasting peace.' He noted the war in Ukraine has stagnated and emphasized the need for dialogue to prevent further loss of life. Dragone denoted Russia's invasion as a strategic blunder for President Putin, despite some recent gains by Russian forces. He assured that European nations are unified and willing to enhance their defense capabilities, with a goal of increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. The admiral also deemed air defense readiness critical following Russian drone incursions and mentioned ongoing efforts to bolster aerial defenses along NATO's eastern borders. In light of potential future aggressions, he reaffirmed NATO's collective defense commitment.