Stoltenberg: Europe must brace for decade of Ukraine war
Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says Europe and NATO must be prepared for a decade of Ukranian war - but the "paradox" of the war in Ukraine is the longer the western military alliance commits to fighting the war, the faster a resolution will be reached.
Asked in an interview with the BBC whether NATO countries should be prepared for the war in Ukraine to last more than a decade, Stoltenberg replied: "Yes."
"But the main message is that the stronger the support for Ukraine and the longer we are willing to commit, the sooner this war can end.The paradox is that now President Putin believes that he can wait us out. So therefore, the war continues", said Jens Stoltenberg.
"And when we say very clearly that we are here for a long time, that we are committed to helping Ukraine for a long time, then we create the conditions for a resolution of the conflict in which Ukraine prevails as an independent sovereign state," said the NATO Secretary General.
Jens Stoltenberg has been the Secretary General of NATO for 10 years and will retire in October this year. He will be succeeded by former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
