Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Foreign Ministry: Yesterday's bloodshed in Kosovo is a direct result of Prime Minister Kurti's policy of fueling the conflict and cleansing the region of Serbs.
The Israeli occupation forces opened fire at Palestinian protesters near the Separation Wall in eastern Gaza.
Russian Interior Ministry puts ICC Chair Piotr Hofmanski on wanted list
Ankara has not yet discussed with Moscow the proposal for a meeting of the heads of Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan, but there are plans: Diplomatic source in Ankara to Sputnik
Libyan Public Prosecutor’s Office: The body investigating the collapse of the Derna dams issues criminal cases against 16 officials
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: SDF announces a general lockdown in the area extending from the town of Al-Shuhail all the way to Al-Baghouz in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor
Russian air defense destroys Ukrainian drone over Belgorod Region: Russian MoD
Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources: Ethiopia retracted from previously reached agreements within the framework of the negotiating process on the Renaissance Dam.
Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation: The tripartite ministerial meeting regarding the Renaissance Dam did not achieve progress.
Gaza Ministry of Health: 6 Palestinians wounded by IOF fire east of Gaza Strip.

NATO chief: We should not underestimate Russia

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 Dec 2022 23:49
  • 1 Shares

NATO chief Stoltenberg says that Moscow preparing for a long war in Ukraine and NATO member states should increase weapons production to replenish depleted stockpiles going to Kiev.

  • NATO chief:
    NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (AFP)

NATO's chief Jens Stoltenberg claimed that Moscow is preparing to prolong the war in Ukraine, stressing that the alliance's member states should keep the flow of arms to Kiev.

Stoltenberg said to AFP on Friday that NATO members must maintain support for Ukraine until "[Russian] President Putin understands that he cannot win on the battlefield."

The secretary-general added that there are currently no indications that Putin has, "given up his overall goal of controlling Ukraine".

Read more: US maintenance of weapons sent to Kiev a "headache"

"We should not underestimate Russia. Russia is planning for a long war," he said in the interview.

"We see that they are mobilising more forces, that they are willing to suffer also a lot of casualties, that they are trying to get access to more weapons and ammunition."

Stoltenberg continued: "We have to understand that President Putin is ready to be in this war for a long time and to launch new offensives," adding that, "most likely this war will end at the negotiating table, as most wars do," stressing that any solution must ensure "Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent nation."

Read more: US & EU burning through own arms stockpile fighting Russia in Ukraine

"The fastest way to achieve that is to support them militarily so President Putin understands that he cannot win on the battlefield but has to sit down and negotiate in good faith," he said.

Regarding reports that the US is planning to send Patriot air defense systems to Kiev, the chief mentioned that there is an ongoing discussion about the delivery of the system.

"We have a dialogue among allies on additional systems, but it becomes more and more important to ensure that all the systems that are delivered are functional."  

Ukraine's demands for more weapons and a huge flow of ammunition have drained the stockpiles of NATO members and sparked fears the alliance's defense industries may not be able to produce enough.

Read more: EU military support for Ukraine leaves the bloc 'vulnerable'

Stoltenberg remarked on the depleting weapons and ammunition stockpiles that NATO member states are facing due to the large demand by Kiev, and the possible inability to replenish the stocks.

"We are ramping up production to do exactly that: to be able both to replenish our own stocks for deterrence and defense, and to continue to provide support to Ukraine for the long haul."

Related News

Sweden NATO bid ratification not 'urgent' matter, Orban says

NATO, EU missions in Kosovo say opt for de-escalation

Following reports that EU and NATO states are facing shortages in their own weapons, Stoltenberg said earlier in September that the alliance is closely collaborating with the defense sector to restock its arsenal, which has been depleted as a result of the supply of armaments to Ukraine by the bloc.

In the same context, EU foreign and security policy chief Josep Borrell said last May the bloc had depleted its military hardware helping Ukraine and urged member states to bolster their defense capabilities.

Borrell argued then that the EU's defensive capabilities and military expenditure did not meet the ones he claimed the bloc needed to counter security threats at hand.

Read more: Smuggled arms from Ukraine could end up in criminal networks: EU chief

Stoltenberg added in the interview that, in the short run, the fall in stockpiles means that factories will now have to maximize production and the alliance must increase joint purchases of arms to give the weapons industry "long-term demand signals so they can invest more."

The current war in Ukraine has pushed the alliance to make its largest shift in nearly 80 years.

"This is the most dangerous security crisis we have been in Europe since the Second World War," he said, adding that, "this is a pivotal moment for security."  

NATO will remain "vigilant and will constantly monitor what they [Russia] do," the chief said commenting on recent Western claims that Russia planning to "use nuclear weapons" in Ukraine.

Read more: Russian nuclear attack on Ukraine unlikely - NATO Chief

"Nuclear rhetoric in reference to potential use of nuclear weapons is reckless, is dangerous," Stoltenberg said, adding that, "his [Putin] aim is of course to deter us from supporting Ukraine, but he will not succeed in doing that."

It's noteworthy that last November, Stoltenberg told German newspaper Welt that military and financial support to Kiev is draining Europe due to the high costs it incurs for Europeans.

"Rising food and electricity bills signify hard times for many households in Europe," Stoltenberg told the German outlet.

Since the war began in Ukraine, Western countries such as the US and Britain, as well as European states, have supplied Kiev with billions of dollars worth of weaponry, adding fuel to the fire in the war.

This comes after reports from US media said that as Washington and its western allies continue to pump weapons into Kiev, maintenance of the armaments is increasingly becoming a headache.

Weapons overused by the Ukrainian military are either being wiped out or damaged during the conflict.

Read more: Ex-US Ambassador to NATO: West's actions rallied Russians around Putin

  • Nato
  • Russia
  • war in Ukraine
  • Jens Stoltenberg
  • Ukraine
  • Vladimir Putin

Most Read

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

  • Europe
  • 23 Sep 2023
Ukrainian soldiers ride an APC on the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, on June 5, 2023 (AP)

US sees Ukrainian army demoralized, no chance to win: Seymour Hersh

  • Europe
  • 21 Sep 2023
Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

  • Analysis
  • 24 Sep 2023
British mercenary in Ukraine killed by another Brit

British mercenary in Ukraine killed by another Brit

  • Europe
  • 18 Sep 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
Tehran Times
Palestine

Iran obtains 70,000+ pages of Israeli judicial documents: Tehran Times

Cuban flag flutters inside the Cuban embassy in Washington (AP)
US & Canada

Cuban Embassy in US comes under 'terrorist' attack

Post-ABC poll showing clear Trump lead over Biden draws criticism from experts.
US & Canada

Post-ABC poll showing clear Trump lead over Biden comes under fire

A woman picks tea leaves in Chepsonoi, Nandi county, in western Kenya on Aug. 13, 2022 (AP)
Africa

Money requital not enough for Unilever Kenya plantation killings, rape

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS