Russia will not be able to achieve its goals in Ukraine despite its great efforts, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in his interview with DPA, as quoted by DW.
According to Jens Stoltenberg, Russia launched the full-scale invasion to prevent Ukraine’s movement to NATO and the European Union. Still, after two years of war, Ukraine is “closer to NATO and the EU than ever,” Jens Stoltenberg said.
“Putin has lost Ukraine forever,” NATO Secretary General said.
Russia has suffered a major strategic defeat in Ukraine, while Ukraine will eventually achieve its goal of joining NATO, Jens Stoltenberg said.
Russia pays a massive price for the all-out war against Ukraine and has already lost hundreds of aircraft, thousands of tanks, and over 300,000 soldiers killed and wounded in action, Jens Stoltenberg said.
Inflation has increased, and living standards have decreased in Russia because of its ill-fated invasion and Western sanctions, according to Jens Stoltenberg. Although Russia is now more politically isolated than before, it has not changed the Kremlin’s course, Stoltenberg said.
“There is no indication that Putin will change his goals and his policy. He will continue to try to occupy more territory [in Ukraine – ed.],” Jens Stoltenberg said. “Ukrainians have shown that they are able to defend themselves, to fight back, especially when they receive weapons from Germany and many other NATO countries,” Stoltenberg added.
The NATO Secretary General refused to comment on Ukraine’s plans to conduct additional mobilization of troops but noted that no one understands the need for the military better than the Ukrainians themselves.
Jens Stoltenberg urged Western allies of Ukraine to continue support for Ukraine and ramp up production of weapons.
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