NATO’s outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned Europe to brace for a potentially decade-long war in Ukraine, asserting that the more the West supports Ukraine, the quicker the conflict could end. He urged NATO allies to boost their commitments, especially as fears mount that U.S. aid could diminish if Donald Trump wins the upcoming presidential election. Stoltenberg emphasized that Putin is betting on outlasting Western resolve, but a clear and strong commitment to Ukraine is crucial for its survival as an independent state. As NATO strengthens its support with a new command unit in Germany, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban has doubled down on his efforts to convince each European leader to make peace.
The outgoing NATO secretary general has issued a warning, saying that Europe needs to be ready for ten years of conflict with Ukraine reports BBC.
According to Jens Stoltenberg, in an interview with the BBC, the “paradox” of the war in Ukraine is that a settlement will come more quickly the longer the Western military alliance fights the conflict.
In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a special military operation in Ukraine.
In light of concerns that US funding may be reduced or perhaps discontinued if Donald Trump wins a second term as US president in November, Mr. Stoltenberg, who will leave his position as secretary general after ten years in October, urged European members of NATO to increase their contributions.
In response to a question on whether NATO allies needed to be ready for the over ten-year-long crisis in Ukraine, Mr. Stoltenberg said, “Yes.”
“But the main message is that this war can end sooner the stronger our support for Ukraine and the longer we are willing to commit,” he continued.
“The paradox is that now President Putin believes that he can wait us out. So, therefore, the war continues.”
“When we communicate very clearly that we are here for the long haul, that we have strong enduring support for Ukraine, then we have the conditions for a solution where Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent state.”
It coincides with the announcement by NATO that a command center to oversee assistance to Ukraine will be set up in Germany starting in September.
“This will provide more predictability and accountability and support and it will also demonstrate our enduring commitment to support Ukraine,” added Stoltenberg.
“The time to stand up for freedom and democracy is now and the place is Ukraine.”
Speaking at the same time Germany revealed plans to almost decrease military funding to Ukraine in 2019—from approximately £6.7 billion (€8 billion; $8.7 billion) to approximately £3.4 billion.
Ukrainian financing, according to Finance Minister Christian Lindner, is “secure for the foreseeable future” because of a plan by the G7 group of wealthy countries to generate $50 billion in interest on Russian assets that have been frozen.
The proposed aid drop is a response to concerns in Ukraine and among its European allies that there may be a lack of US support in the event of a second Trump administration.
One of the Republican Party’s most isolationist members, JD Vance, was selected this week by former US President Trump to be his running partner.
As stated earlier, “I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another” is the senator from Ohio.
He was a strong opponent of US assistance to Ukraine and stated at this year’s Munich Security Conference that Europe needed to realize that the US needed to “pivot” its attention to East Asia.
Because “it’s in the US security interest to have a strong NATO,” Mr. Stoltenberg expressed confidence that the US would stay in the alliance.
He asserted that there is “strong bipartisan support for NATO in the United States, both in the Congress, but also in the opinion polls”.
Mr. Stoltenberg responded, “The right thing to do regardless of what you think about the US commitment to NATO is to invest more in our defense,” when asked if a second term of Trump would mean less financing for the alliance.
“First of all, it increases the likelihood that the US will stay a strong ally.
“Second, if something really bad does happen then it is good we have stronger European and Canadian defense capabilities.”
According to Mr. Stoltenberg, the former US president made “absolutely right and valid criticisms” of European partners for their over-reliance on the US and their inadequate defense investment.
However, “this has now changed,” he continued.
By 2024, members of the military alliance NATO committed to investing a minimum of 2% of their GDP, or their entire economy, in defense.
Of the 32 countries of NATO, the UK is one of 23 that has met the goal this year of allocating 2.3% of GDP to defense.
Mr Stoltenberg said: “NATO is the most successful alliance in history because, despite our differences, we have always been able to unite around our core values: to protect and defend each other.
“I expect that to be the case after the US elections.”
Meanwhile, yesterday evening, July 18, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán shared a video on social media, highlighting his “mission for peace” to halt NATO’s involvement in Ukraine and initiate peace talks. At the European Political Community event in Britain, Orbán spoke with leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, emphasizing that peace can only be achieved through negotiations, not warfare. He also released a detailed letter to the EU, outlining his diplomatic efforts with Ukraine, Russia, China, NATO, and the U.S. to reopen communication channels and restore global respect for the Transatlantic community.
Orbán warned of the looming threat of World War III without significant diplomatic action. Meanwhile, NATO’s outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated the alliance’s unwavering support for Ukraine, even as tensions rise with Russia. Stoltenberg also highlighted the threat of cyber attacks, underscored by a massive global IT outage caused by U.S.-based CrowdStrike. As Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy sought more support from Britain, Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius controversially claimed that new U.S. missile deployments would enhance peace through deterrence, prompting threats from Russia.
Last month, GreatGameInternational reported that amid escalating tensions, Russia has launched devastating airstrikes targeting Ukrainian airfields designated to host NATO’s F-16 jets. This strategic move underscores heightened geopolitical stakes and raises international concerns over the intensifying conflict.
