Stoltenberg vows more 'peace-bringing' weapons to Ukraine

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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Thursday for sending more weapons to Ukraine.

"It may sound like a paradox but military support for Ukraine is the fastest way to peace," Stoltenberg claimed in an end-of-year interview.

The NATO chief considered that Russian President Vladimir Putin must be convinced that he will not achieve his goal of taking control of Ukraine.

According to Stoltenberg, there can be a peaceful negotiated solution that guarantees Ukraine's sovereignty as an independent democratic state.

The NATO Secretary-General claimed that the recent strategic strikes on military targets in Russia are completely legitimate.

A few days ago, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' office said he is ready to mediate in the Ukraine summit issue only if all parties, including Russia, agree to that.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had said Ukraine would like to hold a "peace" summit by the end of February, preferably at a UN site with Guterres as a possible mediator.

"As the Secretary-General has said many times in the past, he can only mediate if all parties want him to mediate," Guterres' office told Sputnik.

Putin had confirmed that Russia is ready to negotiate with all parties to the Ukrainian conflict on acceptable solutions, pointing out that Kiev is not ready for dialogue.

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