Military support for Ukraine “best way” to peaceful solution of conflict – Stoltenberg

Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, on Tuesday urged allies to continue their military support to Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia, claiming it was the “best way” to the peaceful resolution of conflict. 

When asked whether NATO expected a breakthrough on the Ukrainian front in the near future and what Ukraine could do for it, he said: “I am very cautious in predicting the development of events on the front, because wars, by their nature, are unpredictable”.

Stoltenberg also noted the skill and determination of the Ukrainian military on the battlefield, which “surprised the whole world.”

“We have to remember where we started when there was a full-scale invasion last year. There were fears and experts believed that Ukraine would fall within weeks and Kyiv would be under Russian control within days,” Stoltenberg said.

He stressed, such a scenario did not happen and Ukraine was able to push back the Russian forces in the north, east and south, liberating about half of the territory that was occupied at the beginning of the war.

“This speaks to the ability and capabilities of the armed forces of Ukraine. NATO allies have provided significant military support. I have called on allies and support will continue. The stronger Ukraine is on the battlefield, the stronger it will be at the negotiating table”, he said.