NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg – “there are no signs that Putin is preparing for peace.”

On Thursday, Stoltenberg welcomed Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico to NATO Headquarters and praised its “commitment” to the Alliance, including hosting a multinational NATO battlegroup, deploying forces to Latvia, and planning to invest 2% of GDP in defence this year.

They also discussed continued support to Ukraine and further bolstering the Alliance’s deterrence and defence.

The Secretary General welcomed Slovakia’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasising that “there are no signs that Putin is preparing for peace.

“Instead the Kremlin is preparing for a long and grinding war,” he said.

Stoltenberg thanked Fico for confirming that Slovakia would continue to provide humanitarian aid and contribute to NATO’s comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine.

He also welcomed continued defence industry cooperation between Slovakia and Ukraine and that the crucial repair hub in Slovakia will remain operational.

“Stopping military assistance to Kyiv would prolong the war, not end it,” said the Secretary General. He stressed that “if Putin wins in Ukraine, there is a real risk that his aggression will not end there.” 

On NATO’s deterrence and defence, the Secretary General said that a long-planned US missile defence base in Poland will become operational on Friday (15 December 2023).

“This is an important step for transatlantic security” and it will “boost Allies’ ability to defend against the threat of ballistic missiles, particularly from the Middle East,” said Stoltenberg.

His comments are echoed by Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA) who said the move “cannot be over estimated.”

The MEP, a member of the European Parliament´s Foreign Affairs committee, comments on the outcome of the European Council, said, “The importance of the decision to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova cannot be overestimated. December 14, 2023 has become a historic date.

“The EU is proving itself at a time of great threat by President Putin’s reinvigorated Russian imperialism as an actor of change. The path of both countries to accession will certainly not be easy and it will still take some time. But the decision that has now been made ratifies on the part of the EU the new European reality that Ukraine has created through its successful self-defense against the Russian war of aggression: Ukraine is no longer a borderland between East and West.

“It is an integral part of a united and free Europe. In order for it to stay that way, material support, including military support, must now be increased again. There are ways to do this without being stopped by Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. Hesitation, on the other hand, would be very costly.”

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