Putin is not preparing for peace. He is launching new offensive actions – Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO members will increase and continue to support Ukraine, and emphasized that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is not preparing for peace, but for a new offensive in Ukraine.
He said this during a press conference in Brussels on the eve of the February 14-15 meeting of NATO defense ministers.
– Almost a year after the invasion, President Putin is not preparing for peace. He is launching a new offensive,” Stoltenberg said.
The Secretary General added that Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov will join the NATO meeting on Tuesday to address Ukraine’s urgent problems.
– “We must continue to provide Ukraine with what it needs to win and achieve a just and sustainable peace,” he added.
Stoltenberg called Russia’s war against Ukraine a “logistical contest” and called for faster delivery of military aid to Ukraine.
– It is clear that we are in a logistics race. Key supplies, such as ammunition, fuel, and spare parts, must be delivered to Ukraine before Russia can seize the initiative on the battlefield. Speed will save lives,” he said.
In this regard, Stoltenberg assured that the allies will increase their support for Ukraine. He welcomed the recent announcements by the allies of new tanks, heavy weapons, and training for Ukraine and said he expected further deliveries.
Ukrainian intelligence claims that the Russians lack the resources to launch a new massive offensive on the anniversary of the February 24 full-scale invasion. According to Andriy Chernyak, a representative of the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, the enemy plans to become more active in the East in the coming weeks and is now trying to find weaknesses in our defense.
The White House believes that such an offensive by Russia is possible in the spring, and accordingly predicts fierce fighting when it gets warmer.