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FT: Stoltenberg regrets delayed military aid to Ukraine

Former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg admitted that his greatest regret was the late delivery of weapons to Ukraine, which he believes could have strengthened its defenses and possibly deterred Russia’s invasion.

byOlena Mukhina

04/10/2024

2 minute read

NATO summit washington DC Stoltenberg Austin result

Ex-NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets with Lloyd J. Austin (Secretary of Defense, United States) at the Alliance’s 25h summit in Washington DC, 9 July 2024. Credit: NATO/Flickr

FT: Stoltenberg regrets delayed military aid to Ukraine

In his latest interview with the Financial Times, ex-NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg admitted that his greatest regret during his term as head of the Alliance is the delayed delivery of weapons to Ukraine, which could have significantly bolstered its defenses.

NATO continues to affirm strong support for Ukraine, committing to its defense and eventual membership when conditions are met and allies agree. NATO allies emphasize Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression as vital for Euro-Atlantic security, pledging long-term assistance until Ukraine prevails.

“If there’s anything I, in a way, regret and see much more clearly now is that we should have provided Ukraine with much more military support much earlier. I think we all have to admit, we should have given them more weapons pre-invasion. And we should have given them more advanced weapons, faster, after the invasion. I take my part of the responsibility,” said Stoltenberg.

Former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg revealed that the decision to send lethal weapons to Ukraine sparked significant debate within the Alliance.

“Sending lethal weapons was a big discussion. Most allies were against that, pre-invasion . . . they were very afraid of the consequences. I’m proud of what we have done, but it would have been a great advantage if it started earlier. It maybe could even have prevented the invasion, or at least made it much harder for (Russia) to do what they’ve done,” said Stoltenberg.

At a NATO Council meeting in Brussels on 1 October, Jens Stoltenberg formally handed over the role of NATO Secretary-General to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Stoltenberg, who served as the chief of the Alliance since 2014, highlighted the “truly historic journey” the NATO members underwent during his tenure.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Jens Stoltenberg for supporting Ukraine during his tenure as NATO’s Secretary-General.

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