NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that a quick end to the war in Ukraine should not be expected in an interview published on Sunday, as the Ukrainian military is engaged in a counter-offensive to push back Russian forces. , notes AFP.
Volodymyr Zelensky and Jens StoltenbergPhoto: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
“Most wars last longer than anticipated when they started,” Jens Stoltenberg emphasized in this interview with the German media group Funke.
“That’s why we have to prepare for a long war in Ukraine,” he added.
The war began in February 2022, when Russian armed forces invaded Ukraine. Since mid-June, the Ukrainian army has been conducting a counter-offensive to repel Russian forces in the south and east, but this operation has only made it possible to liberate a limited number of localities.
“We all want a quick peace,” Jens Stoltenberg continued.
“But at the same time we have to recognize (this): if President (Volodymyr) Zelensky and the Ukrainians stop fighting, their country will no longer exist,” the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance also declared.
“If President (Vladimir) Putin and Russia lay down their arms, we will have peace,” he said.
Regarding Ukraine’s desire to join NATO, Jens Stoltenberg assured: “There is no doubt that, sooner or later, Ukraine will be in NATO.”
Kiev approached NATO during the Alliance summit in July, he explained.
“When this war ends, we will need security guarantees for Ukraine. Otherwise, history could repeat itself,” warned Jens Stoltenberg.
At the NATO summit in Vilnius, Alliance leaders agreed that Ukraine could join NATO once certain conditions are met, with American and German leaders stressing that among these conditions are reforms to protect democracy and the rule of law. (Agerpress)
