Putin wants not peace, but a pause for re -equipment and a new offensive in Ukraine - Stoltenberg
The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrote about it in his column for The Financial Times. According to him, 2022 became painful for Ukraine because of the full -scale invasion of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and for Russian President Vladimir Putin - "a year of depressing failures". Stoltenberg believes that the Kremlin's head made two strategic mistakes, ordered to start a great war. "Putin underestimated Ukraine.
He thought that he could take Kyiv and beheaded the government for several days. After 10 months, the Ukrainian people, the Armed Forces continue to defend their homeland with skill, courage and determination that inspire the whole world. Tens of thousands of Russian servicemen or killed. About 1 million people have left Russia since the beginning of the year, many - to avoid a call for a war they do not believe.
As a result of this war, Russia has become more poorer and isolated, "NATO Secretary General in its column emphasized. Moreover, according to Stoltenberg, Putin made another mistake when he underestimated the unity of the North Atlantic Alliance. Despite the fact that the military unit is not a party to the conflict, the Allies show a single position on the supply of weapons to Ukraine and assistance in the further European integration of Kyiv.
Separately, Stoltenberg in his column remembered the proposal of President Vladimir Zelensky to withdraw Russian troops to Christmas, which would be the impetus for the completion of a full -scale war. However, the Kremlin rejected such an initiative, and today's actions of Moscow indicate that Russia plans to restore the offensive in Ukraine and tries to pause to re -arry its troops. "The Russians seek more weapons and ammunition from other authoritarian regimes such as Iran.
Russia hopes to freeze the war to give their troops the opportunity to regroup, re -arriate, and try to start a new offensive . . . This Putin has started war. He can finish it today, leaving Ukraine. Now he does not give any signs of what strives for real peace if Putin wins in Ukraine - it will be a signal for Russia and other authoritarian regimes, which can be achieved by the power they want. It will be a catastrophe for Ukraine.
However, it will also do it The whole world is more dangerous, and all of us are more vulnerable, " - said NATO Secretary General, and assured that the victory of Ukraine in the war against Russia is a priority for the Alliance. It should be noted that in November, the President's office was warned that Russia, in initiating the renewal of the negotiation process, is trying to achieve Ukraine's surrender.