NATO chief says Ukraine war could last for years

Source: The Hill | June 19, 2022 | Zach Schonfeld

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with a German newspaper published Sunday that the war in Ukraine could last for years.

In the interview with Bild am Sonntag, Stoltenberg cautioned that “nobody knows” exactly how long the war will continue, reiterating that the country needs support for as long as Russia’s invasion persists.

“We must prepare for the fact that it could take years,” Stoltenberg told the newspaper. “We must not let up in supporting Ukraine. Even if the costs are high, not only for military support, but also because of rising energy and food prices. But that is no comparison to the price that the Ukrainians have to pay every day with many lives.”

U.S. lawmakers have approved more than $50 billion in total assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24. 

The invasion has also disrupted supply chains for some exports, namely oil and grain, exacerbating high inflation that has caused deep political problems for Democrats in the U.S. as the midterm elections approach.

Stoltenberg added that the costs would be “much higher” if Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he can “carry on” after the invasion, pointing to how he did so after Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and annexed Crimea — a peninsula in southern Ukraine — in 2014.

……..

“With more modern weapons, the likelihood increases that Ukraine will be able to drive Putin’s troops out of the Donbas again,” Stoltenberg told Bild am Sonntag.

When asked if people should be afraid of Russia’s nuclear capabilities, Stoltenberg told the news outlet that NATO has not seen a higher level of readiness in Russian nuclear forces.

“Still, Russia’s nuclear saber-rattling is dangerous and irresponsible,” he told Bild am Sonntag. “Putin needs to know that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be waged. Our clear signal to Russia: NATO protects all member states.”

Tagged: , , ,

Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)
Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.