RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Friday the organization will support Ukraine «for as long as it takes» in its war against Russia.
Stoltenberg, who this week made his first visit to Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion, told NBC News that «it would be a tragedy» if Putin’s forces were to win.
“It will also be dangerous for us, because then the message to all totalitarian leaders will be that when they use military force they get what they want,” said Stoltenberg, who has been instrumental in building NATO support for Ukraine. «It will make the world more dangerous and us more vulnerable, and therefore it is in our military interest to support Ukraine.»
His comments came after a meeting of defense leaders from around the world at Ramstein Air Base in Germany in the ongoing effort to coordinate the delivery of weapons and other equipment to Ukraine. The base had been festooned with flags of the nations of the attendees.
During his visit to Ukraine on Thursday, Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, said Ukraine’s “rightful place” was in the military alliance.
Russia has justified the invasion in a number of ways, but preventing Ukraine from joining NATO is one of the most frequently cited reasons. On Thursday, the Kremlin once again said that kyiv’s addition to the alliance would be an existential threat to Russia.
On Friday, Stoltenberg said Putin had «sent hundreds of thousands of troops, battle tanks, planes, missiles to a sovereign and independent country in Europe and killed thousands of civilians.»
He added that NATO supported Ukraine to defend itself. «The right to self-defense is enshrined in the UN charter and we help Ukraine defend that right.»
Russian and Ukrainian forces have largely stalemate over the winter months, with the fiercest battles taking place around the eastern city of Bakhmut. In the face of stubborn Ukrainian defense, Russian attempts to encircle the city have largely failed.
With both sides expected to step up their offensive in the spring, kyiv has stepped up calls for NATO to send weapons and weapons systems, including fighter jets, artillery and armored vehicles.
After the meeting with the ministers, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a news conference that the United States would begin training Ukrainian forces on how to use and maintain Abrams tanks in the coming weeks.
He said the delivery of training tanks in the coming weeks represents «great progress» adding: «I am confident that this equipment, and the training that went with it, will put Ukraine’s forces in a position to continue to succeed in the battlefield. «
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a separate news conference that «air defense was very focused» as well as the delivery of tanks to Ukraine.
Stoltenberg said the conflict had «turned into a war of attrition» and that meant it was «a battle of logistics, which means it’s not just about what happens on the front line, it’s about how we can supply weapons.» to those on the front line.»
He added that NATO allies were working to increase production.