Nato has ‘responsibility’ to ensure Ukraine war does not spread: Stoltenberg
Brussels, Mar 16 (EFE).- Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged Wednesday that the alliance must ensure that the war in Ukraine does not spread beyond that country’s borders.
Speaking alongside US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ahead of a Nato defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Stoltenberg admitted that the war would have “long-lasting” consequences for the security of western allies.
“Nato has a responsibility to ensure that this crisis does not escalate beyond Ukraine, and that’s also the reason we have increased our presence in the eastern part of the alliance,” Stoltenberg said.
The Norwegian noted that the war is “devastating for the Ukrainian population and it will also change our security environment.”
“It will have long-lasting consequences for our security for all Nato allies,” he said.
At Wednesday’s meeting, he said delegates would address the immediate consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as the “long-term adaptation of our alliance” and ways to “remove any room for misunderstanding and miscalculation in Moscow about our readiness to protect and defend all our allies.”
The ministers hope to agree on assessing the deployment of more prepositioned forces and equipment on the alliance’s eastern flank. Ministers from non-members Finland, Sweden, Georgia and Ukraine, the latter by videoconference, will also take part in the meeting. EFE
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