Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the lack of military support to Ukraine contributed significantly to Russia’s full-scale invasion. In an interview with the German newspaper Spiegel, he stressed that although some countries provided weapons, it was clearly not enough.
Stoltenberg stressed that this experience should be an important lesson for all NATO members.
Investments in military power should not be seen as preparation for war, but as a means of preventing it. Otherwise, according to Stoltenberg, not only Russia but also other countries will not take the Alliance seriously. He noted that at the time, it was mistakenly believed that a more cautious course of military assistance was the right decision. A lack of understanding of the importance of urgently strengthening the Ukrainian army and providing financial support meant that Russia was able to carry out its invasion.
The former NATO Secretary General also added that the growing aggressiveness of Russian President Vladimir Putin was evident, and the Alliance responded to it after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. For the first time since the end of the Cold War, NATO has deployed its combat troops to its eastern flank to strengthen its common defence.
However, Stoltenberg supports former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s strategy towards Russia, saying that trying to build the best possible relationship with Russia after the end of the Cold War was the right move.
