In a recent interview with the Financial Times, former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed his regret over the delayed delivery of weapons to Ukraine during his term. He acknowledged that providing Ukraine with more military support earlier on could have significantly strengthened its defenses against Russian aggression.
Despite this regret, NATO continues to show strong support for Ukraine, with a commitment to its defense and eventual membership when certain conditions are met and agreed upon by allies. Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression for Euro-Atlantic security, with NATO allies pledging long-term assistance until Ukraine prevails.
Stoltenberg admitted that the decision to send lethal weapons to Ukraine sparked significant debate within the Alliance. He revealed that most allies were initially against it, fearing the consequences. However, he believes that providing Ukraine with more advanced weapons earlier on could have potentially prevented the invasion or made it more difficult for Russia to carry out.
On 1 October, Stoltenberg formally handed over the role of NATO Secretary-General to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at a NATO Council meeting in Brussels. Stoltenberg reflected on the “truly historic journey” that the NATO members underwent during his tenure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed his gratitude to Stoltenberg for his support of Ukraine during his time as NATO’s Secretary-General.
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