Diplomacy

Stoltenberg: The risk of "escalation"pales in comparison to what Putin could win in the war

Stoltenberg: The risk of "escalation"pales in comparison to what Putin could win in the war
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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Germany's decision to provide Ukraine with another Patriot air defense system and emphasized that Russia must not be allowed to win in Ukraine.

In an interview with Welt, the head of NATO specifically praised Germany's recent statements regarding new arms deliveries: "I welcome Germany's statement that it will send another Patriot air defense system to Ukraine," Stoltenberg said.

"I understand concerns that our support for Ukraine carries the risk of escalation, but this risk pales in comparison to what we would allow Putin to achieve in this war. If Putin wins the war in Ukraine, he will likely resort to violence again," emphasized the Secretary-General.

"We can expect new Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy system. Air defense is of paramount importance for saving Ukrainian lives," Stoltenberg underscored.

While debates in Germany regarding whether to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles are gaining momentum again, Stoltenberg found words of praise for Berlin.

"The supply of weapons is a national matter. I welcome Germany's strong support for Ukraine," he stated.

The NATO Secretary-General also commented on Moscow's threats regarding the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons. "Russia's nuclear rhetoric is entirely irresponsible, but the risk of Russia using nuclear weapons remains low," Stoltenberg said.

According to him, Moscow realizes that a nuclear war can never be won and should never be fought. "Of course, we continue to closely monitor Russia's activities. NATO is a nuclear alliance, and nuclear deterrence has been working for 75 years," he added.

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