Putin prepares Russia for long war in Ukraine, NATO chief says

Russia prepares for a long war against the Ukraine, to whom the NATO will continue to supply weapons until the president Vladimir Putin understand that “you cannot win on the battlefield,” the head of the Alliance told AFP on Friday, Jens Stoltenberg.

LOOK: kyiv suffers one of its worst attacks during massive Russian bombardments against energy infrastructure in Ukraine

Nearly ten months after Russia invaded the Ukraine, kyiv’s forces inflicted a series of defeats on Moscow, liberating parts of the territory. But “nothing indicates that Putin has given up his goal of controlling Ukraine”, warned the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

“We must not underestimate Russia. Prepare for a long war”, Stoltenberg told AFP. “We see that it mobilizes more forces, is willing to suffer many losses, and tries to access more weapons and ammunition,” he stressed.

“We must understand that President Putin is ready to stay in this war for a long time and launch new offensives.“, he claimed.

NATO countries, led by the United States, supplied Ukraine with billions of dollars worth of weapons that helped it hold out against Russia.

“Most likely, this war will end at the negotiating table, like most wars.says Stoltenberg.

Any solution will have to ensure that “Ukraine prevails as a sovereign and independent nation,” he insisted.

“The fastest way to achieve this is to support them militarily, so that President Putin understands that he cannot win on the battlefield, but that he must sit down to negotiate in good faith,” he stressed.

– Speed ​​up production –

After the setbacks suffered on the ground, Russia launched waves of missile and drone strikes against civilian energy infrastructure.

According to American reports, Washington is finalizing plans to send more advanced Patriot missile batteries to Ukrainewhich will be added to the other Western air defense systems already supplied to kyiv.

Stoltenberg stated that “a discussion is ongoing” for the supply of the Patriotsbut stressed that NATO countries must ensure that there is enough ammunition and spare parts to keep the weapons shipped so far working.

Ukraine’s arms demands depleted reserves of allied members and there is a fear that the Alliance defense industries will not be able to produce in sufficient quantity.

“We increased our production with that precise objective, to be able to simultaneously reconstitute our own reserves for deterrence and defense and continue to support Ukraine in the long term,” Stoltenberg said.

– A defining moment –

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine shocked the West. Forced NATO to make its biggest adaptation since the end of the cold war, with the massive reinforcement of its eastern flank. In addition, Finland and Sweden were pushed to ask to join the Alliance.

“It is the most dangerous security crisis that we have known in Europe since the Second World WarStoltenberg said. “This is a defining moment,” he insisted.

The person in charge specified that, despite the fact that Putin’s nuclear threats have been reduced recently, NATO remains alert “and will constantly monitor what they do.”

“Nuclear rhetoric, with references to the potential use of nuclear weapons, is reckless and dangerous,” the NATO chief said.

“His goal is, of course, to dissuade us from supporting Ukraine, but he will not succeed.”, he added.

Jens Stoltenberg’s term as NATO chief, extended by one year in March, ends at the end of 2023. The 63-year-old former Norwegian prime minister did not specify whether he would definitively leave his post next year. “I don’t have other projects,” he said.

He declined to comment on calls by some allies for the appointment of a woman to succeed him.which would be a first for the Alliance.

“My goal is to fulfill my responsibilities as NATO Secretary General so that the Alliance remains unitedhe declared. “It is my only concern and then I leave the decision on who will succeed me to the heads of state and government.”

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.