The former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed his conviction that if NATO countries began to supply weapons to Ukraine after the Russian occupation began in 2014, a full -scale war could be avoided. In an interview with Politico Stoltenberg, he remembered that the war actually began in 2014, with the annexation of Crimea and Russia's intervention to the East of Ukraine, and that NATO had already provided some support to Ukraine, but it was insufficient.
Stoltenberg stressed that NATO did not provide enough military support to Ukraine after the start of Russian aggression. Although the Alliance conducted training of the Ukrainian military, in particular within the framework of curricula on the basis of Yavoriv, many countries restricted their assistance and avoided the provision of lethal weapons. This, according to Stoltenberg, was the result of the then NATO policy, which was reflected from the direct supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine.
"I tried to persuade the allies to do more for Ukraine, to provide more weapons and military training, but it was limited," Stoltenberg said.
Stoltenberg believes that the provision of greater military assistance to Ukraine after 2014 could increase the threshold for Russian aggression, and may even prevent a full -scale intrusion in 2022. He noted that a large part of the weapon that Ukraine received from NATO countries after 2022 could significantly affect the development of events if it were provided at an earlier stage.
"No one can say exactly, but greater military support could change the schedule of power and possibly prevent the invasion," he said.
It is known that since February 2025 Stoltenberg will head the Munich Security Conference. This event reflects its long contribution to the international security and its active participation in defense and international relations.
