Putin knows there will be ‘severe consequences’ if he unleashes a nuclear attack, NATO warns

The countries of the NATO they are going to redouble their efforts to improve the anti-aircraft defenses of Ukraine after the latest Russian projectile attacks on urban centers and critical infrastructure throughout the country, and will deliver drone inhibitor equipment or missile systems such as the four HAWK launchers offered by Spain.

“The NATO is not a party to the conflict. But we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.” stressed the secretary general of the Alliance, JEns Stoltenberg, at a press conference at the end of a two-day meeting of allied defense ministers.

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The allied ministers held a working dinner last night with their Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov, who also participated yesterday in the sixth meeting of the contact group in favor of the defense of Ukraine, that brings together more than 50 countries.

In both meetings he was able to account for the most pressing needs of his country to continue defending itself from the invading Russian forces.

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“NATO allies are supplying advanced systems, such as artillery, air defense and armored vehicles,” emphasized today Stoltenberg.

Specifically, the Alliance had made it a priority to accelerate delivery to Ukraine of anti-aircraft defenses, and countries such as Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands or the United States announced new contributions in this regard in recent days.

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So much Stoltenberg as the US Secretary of Defense, LloydAustin, thanked Spain for its announcement today to provide four HAWK launchers to reinforce the air defense of Ukraine.

American made, the HAWK missile system has a range of 40 kilometers and deals with the detection, identification, tracking and destruction of air targets at medium and low altitude.

Stoltenberg also announced that NATO will deliver to Ukraine “hundreds” of inhibitors to disable Russian and Iranian-made drones that are wreaking havoc with Russia’s attacks on critical infrastructure and the Ukrainian population.

Germany already announced yesterday the shipment to Ukraine of the first of the four anti-aircraft defense systems Iris-Twhile the remaining three will arrive in 2023, and the US said two weeks ago that it will send a new military aid package to Ukraineworth 1,100 million dollars, consisting of weapons and military equipment that includes 18 new High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS, in English), as well as hundreds of armored cars, radars and anti-drone batteries.

Austinin any case, warned today at a press conference that the delivery of some anti-aircraft defenses to Ukraine it can be provided immediately but, another, it can take even two years as its manufacture has to be completed.

Stoltenberg also assured that the allies will continue to provide Ukraine with fuel and medical supplies, and recalled that the Alliance has set out to help Ukraine “in the long term” to make a transition from Soviet-era defense equipment to modern ones used by the NATO.

About the Russian nuclear threatss, the secretary general said that “the circumstances” in which the Atlantic Alliance “might have to use nuclear weapons are extremely remote.” although he assured that such an attack by Russia “will have severe consequences.”

He made it clear that the Kremlin’s nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible and that any use of nuclear weapons by Russia would have “serious consequences”.

In any case, the NATO It will carry out its annual nuclear deterrence exercise next week, which Stoltenberg reiterated was planned before the invasion began.

the maneuvers Steadfast Noon” take place every October and typically include training flights with dual-capable fighter jets, as well as conventional aircraft backed by surveillance and refueling aircraft, and do not use actual weapons.

The ministers also made the decision to increase allied ammunition reserves and speed up the delivery of capabilities, depleted after months of arms shipments to Ukraine.

It’s about “providing industry with the long-term demand it needs to drive production,” according to Stoltenberg.

The allies They also agreed to continue improving the resistance of critical submarine and energy infrastructures and also decided to create a working group to advise the Defense industry when developing “responsible” artificial intelligence systems, with “quality controls and risk mitigation”. risks”.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.