14 February 2023 , 11:52
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Vladimir Putin is preparing “new offensives” in Ukraine as the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion looms, NATO’s chief warned today.
Speaking at the coalition’s Brussels headquarters as he opened a two-day meeting of defence ministers, alliance Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said: “We meet at a critical time for our security.
"Next week we mark the first year of the terrible war in Ukraine - the fully-fledged invasion by Russia against Ukraine, and we see no signs that President Putin is preparing for peace.
“What we see is the opposite - he’s preparing for more war, for new offensives and new attacks.
“It makes it even more important that NATO allies and partners provide more support to Ukraine.” Former Norwegian Prime Minister Mr Stoltenberg said the conflict had become “a grinding war of attrition”.
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He also admitted that whether to send fighter jets to Kyiv was “an ongoing discussion” within NATO, but added: “The issue of aircraft is not the most urgent issue now.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is hosting the group's defence ministers in Brussels (OLIVIER HOSLET/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Mr Stoltenberg was also forced to deny that NATO is locked in a proxy war with Moscow, with alliance countries, including the UK, US and France, sending arms to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s regime.
“Neither NATO nor NATO allies are party to the conflict, what we do as NATO allies is to provide support to Ukraine,” he said.
“Ukraine is defending itself. This is a war of aggression. President Putin - Russia - has attacked a sovereign, independent, democratic, free nation in Europe - Ukraine - and of course Ukraine has the right to defend itself.”
Finland and Sweden have applied to join the 30-member alliance following Russia’s invasion, boosting the coalition.
Russia invaded its neighbour on February 24 last year (Libkos/AP/REX/Shutterstock)The Ukraine war has led to a revival within NATO, which in November 2019 Emmanuel Macron claimed was “brain dead”.
The French President said: “What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO.”
Dr Catarina Thomson, an expert in international relations from Exeter University said yesterday(TUES): “It’s incredible that recently NATO was being characterised as ‘brain dead’.
“Now countries one would have never thought would join are applying, and the bloc appears united because of events in Ukraine.
“This sort of support was unthinkable at the beginning of 2022.
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“Now NATO’s role in bringing nations together in light of Russian aggression is indisputable.”
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