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Stoltenberg began his visit by laying a wreath in honour of
Ukrainian soldiers killed fighting Russian forces in the east of
the country and reviewing captured Russian armoured vehicles on
the capital's St Michael's Square.
Ukrainian leaders and NATO officials did not immediately make
any announcements about the trip, but top leaders visiting Kyiv
often hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The NATO secretary-general's visit is likely to irk Russia,
which regards the alliance as a hostile military bloc bent on
encroaching on what it sees as its sphere of influence and
opposes Ukraine's efforts to join NATO.
The Kremlin told reporters on a conference call on Thursday that
one of the aims of what Moscow calls its "special military
operation" in Ukraine was to prevent Ukraine ever joining NATO.
"...otherwise it will present a serious, significant danger to
the security of our country," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov
said.
Ukraine, which gained independence from the Moscow-led Soviet
Union in 1991, announced a bid for fast-track membership of NATO
last September after the Kremlin said it had annexed four
Ukrainian regions that its troops have partially occupied.
NATO SUPPORT
Stoltenberg's visit to Kyiv comes at a vital juncture in
Russia's almost 14-month-old invasion which has killed
thousands, uprooted millions, destroyed cities and devastated
the Ukrainian economy.
After weathering a Russian winter and spring offensive that has
made only small advances in the east, Ukraine now hopes to
retake land in its south and east in a counteroffensive in the
coming weeks or months.
Stoltenberg began his trip a day before NATO defence officials
discuss new military supplies for Ukraine at their latest
meeting at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has supported Ukraine
throughout the war, with member states sending weapons but not
fighting troops. Kyiv has repeatedly called for more weapons
from its allies.
Denmark and the Netherlands announced on Thursday they would
jointly donate 14 Leopard 2 tanks.
On Wednesday, Washington announced $325 million in new military
aid, including ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket
Systems (HIMARS), advanced missiles and anti-tank mines.
(Additional reporting by Moscow newsroom, Writing by Tom
Balmforth; editing by Timothy Heritage)
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