NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has cautioned that the conflict in Ukraine may be prolonged, as Kyiv's counteroffensive against Russia has thus far yielded limited progress.
Despite attempts by Ukraine's allies to highlight recent advancements, the campaign has been ongoing for months without any significant breakthroughs. As the season transitions to fall, the situation on the ground will shift, potentially leading to renewed attacks by Russia on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
"According to Stoltenberg, wars usually endure beyond initial expectations, which is why we need to anticipate a prolonged conflict in Ukraine," he conveyed in an interview with Berliner Morgenpost, a German newspaper, on Sunday.
"While we all hope for a swift resolution, we must also acknowledge the following: if President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people abandon their struggle, their nation would cease to exist. Conversely, if President Putin and Russia were to put down their arms, peace would prevail," emphasized the NATO head.
"He added that the simplest solution to bring an end to this war would be for Putin to withdraw his troops.
Addressing the potential of Putin deploying nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Stoltenberg remarked, "The dangerous and ruthless nuclear rhetoric from Putin is acknowledged, but NATO is fully ready to tackle any threat or challenge."
"The point of NATO is to prevent war - not least nuclear war. We have a credible deterrent."
Ukrainian servicemen load shells into a RAK-SA-12 small multiple launch rocket system near the front line town of Bakhmut.
Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters
Ukrainian tanks train in the Chernihiv region.
Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty Images
The NATO chief reiterated that it is just a matter of time before Ukraine joins the alliance.
"Ukraine's membership in NATO has been unequivocally confirmed by all allies," he stated, emphasizing that once the war concludes, Ukraine should be offered safety assurances to prevent any potential recurrence of history.
Regarding the potential nuclear threat posed by Russia, Stoltenberg stressed, "We have unequivocally communicated to Russia that a nuclear war is unwinnable and must be avoided at all costs. Moscow needs to comprehend that the utilization of nuclear weapons is unacceptable."
"We are observing very closely what the Russian army is doing. Until now we have not noticed any changes to Russias nuclear forces that would prompt us to react."
Clock is ticking
Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia has yielded only limited progress thus far, and the victories have come at a significant expense. Ukrainian troops recently declared the successful reconquest of the village of Andriivka, located to the south of Bakhmut, marking the first instance of a reclaimed settlement in several weeks.
With deteriorating weather conditions and increasingly difficult fighting circumstances, Ukraine is under pressure to achieve a notable advancement. The top military official of the United States predicts that Ukraine only has a limited six-week window before the changing weather begins to impede its counteroffensive.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, informed the BBC that there is still a considerable timeframe of approximately 30 to 45 days remaining for combat in favorable weather conditions. However, he mentioned that the effectiveness of battlefield movements may be hindered by mud and rain thereafter.
Despite this forecast, Ukraine has indicated its determination to continue fighting irrespective of the weather conditions.
Kyrylo Budanov, the leader of military intelligence, admitted that the counteroffensive was progressing at a slower pace than he desired. He remarked that Russia's defensive boundaries were carefully strategized and fortified with mines, creating a "complicated" scenario on the battlefield.
Nonetheless, despite the undeniable presence of harsh weather conditions, Budanov underlined that the military cannot afford to disregard the ongoing hostilities. Thus, the counteroffensive will persist.
The duration of Ukraine's support from NATO, one of its strongest allies, is uncertain due to the upcoming US election in 2024. Both NATO and the US have played a critical role in providing military assistance to Ukraine in its battle against Russia. Reporting contributed by Radina Gigova and Olga Voitovych of CNN.
