Vladimir Putin “totally underestimated” the West’s resolve to support Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin has underestimated NATO’s support for Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has recommended that Moscow disastrously miscalculated the support Ukraine would obtain within the wake of Putin’s invasion in February 2022.
The head of the navy alliance informed the Brussels Forum: “What has occurred during the last 15 months demonstrates that President Putin made a minimum of two, huge, strategic errors.
“One was to underestimate Ukrainians – the bravery, the resolve, the braveness of Ukrainian folks, the Ukrainian political management and Ukrainian armed forces.
“He additionally completely underestimated us – NATO allies and companions.
“He didn’t expect at all our unity, our resolve to support Ukraine.”
Stoltenberg is ready to step down as NATO boss later this yr and is below stress to supply Kyiv a spot within the alliance and provides Volodymyr Zelensky a agency timetable for entry.
NATO leaders are anticipated to debate Ukraine’s membership once they meet for an annual summit in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius in July.
Stoltenberg mentioned: “There are consultations occurring now… on a path ahead and methods to tackle the Ukrainians’ ambitions for NATO membership. No one is ready to inform you precisely what would be the ultimate choice on the Vilnius summit on this situation.
“We all agree that NATO’s door is open for new members and that it is for NATO allies and Ukraine to decide when they should join, not Moscow – they don’t have a veto.”
