North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that the country should prepare for a long-term battle ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (the 24th).
Stoltenberg said in an interview with AFP on the 16th (local time), “We must prepare for a new stalemate with Russia as the war in Ukraine could continue for years to come.”
“Russian President Vladimir Putin wants a ‘new Europe’,” Stoltenberg said. did.
Regarding how long the conflict between Russia and Western countries will last, he implied that it was difficult to predict, saying, “We have witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 9/11 attacks.” It is an explanation that changes in the international situation can occur suddenly.
Until now, NATO member countries have been reluctant to intervene directly, such as sending their own troops to Ukraine, fearing that the war could escalate into a nuclear war. However, since Russian tanks were introduced into the war, tens of thousands of NATO troops have been deployed to the eastern region of NATO, and member states have continued to provide large-scale weapons support to Ukraine, including main battle tanks.
Stoltenberg said, “The relevance and importance of NATO have been proven since the outbreak of the war.” “What we’ve seen since the Russian invasion last year is the value that North America and Europe are together, and we’ve invested more in defense and readiness over the past few years,” he explained.
He also resisted criticism from some critics that he should have armed Ukraine more quickly and protected it as an alliance shield after Russia’s illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
“This is a war that President Putin chose, and only President Putin and the policy makers in Moscow are responsible,” Stoltenberg said. We cannot escape responsibility.”
Stoltenberg also emphasized continued military support for Ukraine, saying, “We will provide the necessary weapons, ammunition and support to help Ukraine win this war.”
Meanwhile, NATO has warned that Russia is planning a major offensive to coincide with the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.