A yr on, assist to Ukraine from nations world wide issues greater than ever, NATO Secretary Normal Jens Stoltenberg mentioned in Brussels at this time.
Stoltenberg spoke earlier than the alliance Protection Ministerial which, he mentioned, is going on “at a important time for our safety.”
February 24 marks one yr since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to invade neighboring Ukraine. The Russian chief believed he would have a cakewalk and take the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, however his forces had been stopped and pushed off. The identical occurred in Kharkiv and in Kherson.
Nonetheless, “we see no indicators that President Putin is getting ready for peace,” he mentioned. “What we see is the alternative, he’s getting ready for extra struggle, for brand new offensives and new assaults. So, it makes it much more necessary that NATO allies and companions present extra assist to Ukraine.”
The NATO allies will shield each inch of NATO territory, however supporting Ukraine in its combat in opposition to bare aggression is essential as properly.
The Russian assault on Ukraine is an affront to sovereignty not solely in Europe, however world wide. “This can be a struggle of aggression,” Stoltenberg mentioned. “President Putin — Russia — has attacked a sovereign impartial democratic free nation in Europe — Ukraine. After all, Ukraine has the suitable to defend itself — the suitable of self-defense is enshrined within the [United Nations] Constitution.”
NATO and NATO nations “have the suitable to assist Ukraine uphold the suitable for self-defense.”
He famous that the assist Ukraine has acquired has modified because the struggle advanced. At first, the necessity was for anti-armor and anti-air weapons. Then, the necessity shifted to artillery, then air protection. “And now, during the last weeks and months, allies have agreed to additional step up considerably in relation to heavy weaponry: armor, infantry combating autos, but additionally principal battle tanks,” he mentioned.
The kind of assist has advanced and can proceed to evolve, he mentioned. “We have to be certain that Ukraine will get the weapons it wants to have the ability to retake territory, liberate the lands and win this struggle and prevail as a sovereign, impartial nation,” he mentioned.
