A possible Russian victory in the fighting in Ukraine carries more danger than the risk of an escalation of the military conflict, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during a speech at a security conference in Munich. His words are given on the alliance website.
As Stoltenberg said, “some fear” military support for Ukraine could escalate. However, “there are no risk-free options,” stressed the Secretary General.
“The greatest risk is to win [президента России Владимира] Cheese fries. If Putin wins in Ukraine, it will send a message to him and other authoritarian leaders that they can use force to get what they want. It will make the world more dangerous. And we are more vulnerable,” Stoltenberg said.
The NATO Secretary General urged Ukraine to “provide what it needs to win and triumph as a sovereign and independent state in Europe”.
Stoltenberg Declaration commented Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, on his Telegram channel. As the politician wrote, in “understandable” Russian, the words of the NATO Secretary General mean that a Russian victory is more likely than a Third World War.
Stoltenberg, who is due to step down as NATO secretary general in October, has consistently insisted in his public remarks that sending weapons to Kiev is the only way to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict. In particular, he called what was happening a “logistics race” and called on the countries of the alliance to send ammunition, fuel and spare parts for military equipment to Ukraine “before Russia can take the initiative on the battlefield”.
In turn, Russian officials express confidence that NATO’s heavy weapons deliveries to Kiev will not be able to fundamentally change the situation on the line of contact.
As the Washington Post wrote in mid-February, citing sources, the administration of US President Joe Biden has increased pressure on Ukraine, warning it of the imminent start of a “decisive moment” in hostilities. According to the publication, US authorities are linking their expectations to high volumes of military aid from the West. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin spoke of the beginning of a “decisive moment” in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in January.
