Stoltenberg: "We have decades of confrontation with Moscow ahead of us"
If Putin wins in Ukraine, there are no guarantees that Russian aggression will not spread further, he stressed
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called on Europe to increase arms production to support Ukraine and prevent a "potential decade of confrontation" with Moscow.
Source. He said this in an interview published by German media on Saturday.
On the eve of a key meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels and the second anniversary of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Stoltenberg said that "we need to rebuild and expand our industrial base faster, increase supplies to Ukraine and replenish our own stockpiles".
"This means shifting from slow peacetime production to high-paced production in times of conflict," he said in an interview with the German Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag.
"There is no direct military threat against any ally. At the same time, we regularly hear the Kremlin's threats against NATO countries," Stoltenberg said.
Russia's nearly two-year-long invasion of Ukraine has shown that "peace in Europe cannot be taken for granted," the NATO chief said, stressing the importance of protecting the alliance's members.
"As long as we invest in our security and remain united, we will continue to deter any aggression," he said. "NATO does not want war with Russia, but we must be prepared for a potentially decade-long confrontation.
"We are closely monitoring Russia's actions and have increased our presence in the eastern part of the alliance," Stoltenberg said. "If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is no guarantee that Russian aggression will not spread further. So supporting Ukraine now and investing in NATO's own capabilities is our best defence."
NATO defence ministers will meet in Brussels on 15 February, a week before the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The key point of the talks will be a meeting of the Contact Group on Defence of Ukraine.
Background. As a reminder, NATO has stated that Ukraine's situation at the frontline is difficult due to the end of US funding. There are concerns that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will run out of ammunition for artillery and air defence systems.
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