NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who plans to leave his post in October 2024, admitted that the alliance could have done more to prevent war in Ukraine. In an interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS), he noted that providing military aid to Ukraine before the Russian invasion could significantly raise the threshold for aggression.
According to Stoltenberg, in 2015, during his visit to Ukraine, he visited the training center where the US, Canada and Great Britain trained Ukrainian military personnel. However, NATO as an organization did not participate in this process, limiting itself to diplomatic steps and minor support.
Stoltenberg emphasizes that the members of the Alliance did not dare to provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons before the start of the invasion due to fear of a possible escalation from Russia. This especially concerned the supply of anti-tank missiles and sniper rifles.
"We could have armed Ukraine to prevent war, but we decided to be careful, fearing escalation. We are now providing the means to wage war, although we could have done it earlier to prevent it," he said.
Stoltenberg also emphasized that the issue of Ukraine joining NATO has always remained difficult and, especially at the time of 2022, was not realistic. This issue caused constant debate, but the members of the Alliance hesitated because of the fear of Russian aggression.
Despite the constant support of Ukraine in the war, Stoltenberg noted that the cessation of hostilities will be possible only through negotiations with Russia. But such negotiations must be based on Ukraine's strong position, which must be achieved through military support from NATO and other allies.
