In October, Jens Stoltenberg ends his ten-year term as NATO chief. Now he calls on all European NATO members to maintain their support for Ukraine.
The reason is that the US may cut or completely stop funding if Donald Trump wins the election in November.
“Putin thinks he can wait us out”
When asked if NATO allies need to be prepared for the war in Ukraine to last more than ten years, Stoltenberg replied: “Yes.”
– The main message is to continue the support to Ukraine to put an end to it. The paradox is that now President Putin thinks he can wait us out. That is why the war continues, he elaborates BBC.
Former US president Donald Trump has previously stated that European countries do not invest enough in their defense and rely on the US.
Stoltenberg thinks this is justified and that Trump is right in that criticism.
– Now it has been resolved, says the NATO chief.
“Bet on the defense”
But unrest in Ukraine is growing after Donald Trump nominated Ohio Senator JD Vance as his vice presidential running mate. That after the Ohio senator had previously expressed criticism of the aid.
“I don’t really care what happens with Ukraine one way or the other,” JD Vance has said on an episode of the War Room podcast, hosted by Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon.
But Stoltenberg believes that the US will stay in NATO because it is in their security interest.
– Invest more in defence, that way you ensure that the US stays in NATO.