NATO chief calls for more weapons for Ukraine

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called for increased military support for Ukraine as the war is reaching its 11th month. Stoltenberg said the increased military support for Ukraine is the only way to reach a negotiated peaceful solution to end the war.

In an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Stoltenberg reiterated increased military assistance for Ukraine as it pushes back against Russia’s continued aggression. Stoltenberg said the increased support is the only way for a negotiated peaceful solution to end the 11-month-long war.

“This is a pivotal moment in the war and the need for a significant increase in support for Ukraine,” said Stoltenberg. “If we want a negotiated peaceful solution tomorrow we need to provide more weapons today.”

Regarding the upcoming talks among defense leaders of around 50 countries, including NATO, on Friday, Stoltenberg said that discussions were still taking place in the hopes that Germany would lift its opposition to sending its Leopard tanks to Ukraine or at least approve the transfer of such tanks from allied countries. However, Stoltenberg welcomed the United Kingdom’s decision to send its Challenger tanks to Kyiv, making the UK the first Western country to provide tanks.

Aside from tanks, Stoltenberg said Ukraine needed more air defense systems, armor, ammunition, spare parts, and maintenance capabilities to make sure that the existing weapons were still operational. Stoltenberg said the current situation on the battlefields stabilized in the past weeks, but the heavy fighting in Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine highlighted the need to provide more weapons.

The day before, two NATO surveillance planes arrived in Romania as part of the alliance’s efforts to bolster security for the eastern flank while monitoring Russian activity amidst fears that the war could spill over. The first plane landed in an air base near the capital Bucharest with the second plane landing later in the day and a third plane on Wednesday. The planes will begin their reconnaissance flights on NATO territory.

The alliance has boosted its military presence in eastern Europe and the Baltics since the war began in February last year with fighter jets, surveillance planes, and tankers.