Putin 'mortgaging Russia's future to China', warns NATO chief amid Ukraine war
Vladimir Putin is “mortgaging” Russia’s future to China as the war with Ukraine grinds on, NATO’s chief warned today.
The alliance’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg accused the Kremlin tyrant of selling out to Beijing as the West shuns Moscow following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Speaking after a “productive” two-day meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council of foreign ministers in Brussels, Mr Stoltenberg said: “We see the economic reliance, we see how Russia becomes more and more dependent on China for financing, for commodities and also for key commodities for their defence industry, the fact that Russia is not able to export energy in the same way it did before to Europe, which was their main and most important market - not least for natural gas. Year by year Moscow is mortgaging their future to Beijing and this is one of the examples of how Russia is becoming more and more weak economically as a result of this war.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was speaking at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels (AFP via Getty Images)He also hailed the looming deployment of F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv - but warned the warplanes would not be a “silver bullet” to end the 21-month conflict. “I hope the delivery can start as soon as possible,” said Mr Stoltenberg. “The planes are there but what needs to be done is to train the pilots and that's ongoing.”
But he added: “Of course, F-16s will make a difference, they will strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to inflict losses on the Russian invading forces and F-16s will also help to further strengthen Ukraine's air defences. At the same time, I think we need to now realise there is not a silver bullet, not a single system, that by itself will change, fundamentally, the situation on the battlefield.”
He also confirmed assessments that Ukraine had retaken half the land invaded by Russia. “They continue to inflict heavy losses on Russia. Ukraine has recaptured 50% of the territory that Russia originally seized,” said Mr Stoltenberg. “In the Black Sea, the Ukrainians have pushed back the Russian Fleet and established routes for grain exports, bolstering global food security.
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“Most importantly, Ukraine has prevailed as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation. This is a major achievement - a big win. As Ukraine has moved forwards, Russia has fallen backwards. It is now weaker politically, militarily and economically.”
He insisted Kyiv was “closer to NATO than ever before” as it works towards achieving its goal of joining the 31-nation alliance. Coalition leaders have told Ukraine the reforms that must take place before it can join the organisation. They include boosting human rights, tackling corruption and “strengthening” the rule of law, said former Norwegian Prime Minister Mr Stoltenberg. He added: “We will continue to support them on the path to membership.”
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