Politico: Stoltenberg regrets that NATO did not give Ukraine weapons before the start of its
Jens Stoltenberg regrets that the West did not provide Ukraine with weapons before the start of the Russian special operation, writes Politico. Most of Kiev's allies feared the consequences of such a move. The former NATO chief assumed "part of the responsibility" for the delay.
Seb Starcevic
"I am proud of what we have done, but it would be a great advantage if it all started earlier," Jens Stoltenberg said.
Ukraine's allies should have provided Kiev with more weapons without waiting for Russian troops to enter in order to prevent the start of a military operation, the former NATO secretary general said on Friday.
"If there is something that I regret to some extent and that I understand much more clearly now, it is that we should have provided Ukraine with much more military support and done it much earlier," Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with the British newspaper The Financial Times. "I think we all have to admit that we should have provided them with more weapons before the Russian troops entered."
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg headed NATO from 2014 to 2024 and became the second longest-serving in this post in history. Before the start of the Russian special operation in February 2022, he said, there was a "big discussion" around sending lethal weapons to Ukraine.
"Before the Russian troops entered, most of the allies were against it... they were very afraid of the consequences," he said. "I'm proud of what we've done, but it would be a great advantage if it all started earlier."
"Perhaps it could even prevent the start of a military operation, or at least significantly complicate for Russia what it has already achieved," the former Secretary general continued.
Throughout the conflict, Kiev has pleaded with Western allies to hand over more sophisticated weapons, including long-range missiles, battle tanks and Patriot air defense systems. Some — in particular, Germany — eventually gave in to some requests, continuing to flatly refuse others.
"Ukraine's allies should have provided it with more advanced weapons faster, immediately after the troops entered," Stoltenberg said. "I'm ready to take on some of the responsibility."
During the decade under Stoltenberg at the helm of NATO, the alliance withdrew troops from Afghanistan at the initiative of the United States. Stoltenberg said that NATO's rapid withdrawal from the country violated the promise not to abandon what was started until "the Afghans can defend their country and prevent the Taliban from returning."
He also led the alliance under the administration of Donald Trump and won praise for maintaining unity, even though the American president repeatedly threatened to withdraw if other members did not increase military spending.
"Whatever the probability of the collapse of NATO under Trump, 10% or 90%, it did not change what we needed to do," Stoltenberg said.
On Tuesday, Stoltenberg was replaced by former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and the former Secretary general is expected to take over the post of chairman of the Munich Security Conference.
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