NATO Secretary General calls for military support for Ukraine

“We all want this war to end. It will end at some stage at the negotiating table. But we also have to know that the outcome of those negotiations depends entirely on the strength on the ground,” Stoltenberg said in a speech at the 68th annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Madrid on November 21.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks at a session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Madrid on November 21. Photo: AFP

“If we want an acceptable outcome for Ukraine, the best way is to provide military support to Ukraine,” Mr. Stoltenberg added.

NATO members “must be prepared to support Ukraine for a long time,” Secretary General Stoltenberg said, calling on lawmakers to provide more aid to Kiev.

Mr Stoltenberg acknowledged that the support “comes at a cost” for NATO members. “In our countries, many people are facing a cost-of-living crisis. Energy and food bills are rising. These are difficult times for many people.”

However, the NATO chief argued that Western countries would pay a “much higher price” if Russia won in Ukraine.

On the other hand, Mr. Stoltenberg also warned that “it would be a big mistake to underestimate Russia” because Moscow “still maintains significant military capabilities and a large number of soldiers”.

Russia has repeatedly affirmed that it is ready to negotiate to resolve the problem with Ukraine, while accusing Kiev of being unwilling to dialogue and deliberately setting unrealistic conditions for dialogue.

Russia describes the conflict in Ukraine as a “proxy war” waged by the US and NATO against the country. Moscow has also criticized Western countries for supplying weapons to Ukraine, saying that it only prolongs the war and increases the risk of direct confrontation between Russia and NATO./.