NATO Militaries Want to Help Ukraine Build Up its Naval Strength

A new coalition led by NATO members Britain and Norway is looking to help Ukraine build a navy, something the country has largely lacked for most of its fight against Russia. Even without a proper navy, Ukraine relied on drone boats and longrange cruise missiles during its summer counteroffensive to hammer Russia's Black Sea Fleet and inflict significant damage. But Kyiv's Western military backers say there is still a lot more to be done to strengthen Ukraine's maritime capabilities. Britain and Norway announced the new initiative called the Maritime Capability Coalition on Monday, and said several other allies are expected to participate. The ultimate goal, they say, is to help transform Ukraine's navy and make it more compatible with the West and NATO. The effort is also designed to facilitate the movement of commercial ships through the Black Sea and bypass a Russian blockade, thus benefiting Kyiv's economy. The new coalition "marks the beginning of a new dedicated effort by the UK, Norway, and our allies to strengthen Ukraine's maritime capabilities over the long term, enhancing their ability to operate in defending their sovereign waters and bolstering security in the Black Sea.