NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday urged members of the alliance to speed up humanitarian assistance to Ukraine after the destruction of a major dam. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba briefed NATO ambassadors via video link on the devastation caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, which Kyiv blames on Russia. Stoltenberg told the meeting that “the consequences for thousands of people and for the environment are dramatic, and he urged Allies to provide support expeditiously”, NATO said in a statement. “Allies expressed strong solidarity with Ukraine, and many are already providing critical aid, including water filters, pumps, generators, and shelter equipment,” it said. The destruction of the Russian-held dam has inundated 600 square kilometres and forced thousands to flee. NATO countries — headed by the United States — have already provided Ukraine with weaponry worth tens of billions of dollars since Russia launched its all-out invasion last February. Ukraine’s backers will hold talks next Thursday at the NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss further arms deliveries to Kyiv. NATO defence ministers are also expected to discuss support for Kyiv and the thorny issue of its bid to join the alliance at a separate two-day meeting. Stoltenberg said the “importance of immediate, medium and long-term support to Ukraine” will be a “key topic” of the gatherings next week. NATO members are wrangling over how to handle Ukraine’s push for membership ahead of a summit of the alliance’s leaders in Vilnius next month. Kyiv — and NATO countries in eastern Europe — want it to be given a clear sign it will join when Russia’s war ends. But the United States and Germany are reluctant to go beyond a vague pledge made 15 years ago that Ukraine will become a member one day. Diplomats are discussing if Ukraine could be given security guarantees short of joining NATO — such as priority weapon supplies — to prevent further Russian aggression when the conflict ends.