The secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, reiterated today (1st), that the 30 countries that make up the multinational military alliance condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine, but that the organization will not send troops to fight alongside the Ukrainian resistance forces. Ukraine is not part of NATO, although it is considered a partner country and, for years, has been signaling its intention to participate in the alliance – a movement opposed by the Russian government, which fears the increase in US influence in Eastern Europe.
“You [países] NATO allies provide different types of military support [ao governo ucraniano]: material, anti-tank weapons, air defense systems and other types of military equipment, as well as humanitarian aid and also financial support, but NATO must not be part of the conflict and will not send troops or planes to Ukraine,” the secretary said. general this morning after visiting a Polish air base in the company of Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Stoltenberg said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “destroyed peace in Europe” by attacking Ukraine in an “unacceptable” way, and that, for this, NATO deployed, for the first time in history, its Military Response Force, whose manpower is already being mobilized by land, sea and air.
“Putin’s war affects us all. And NATO Allies will always be together. To defend and protect each other,” the secretary-general said, citing the presence of US fighter jets at the Polish air base in Lask and the imminent arrival of French troops in Romania.
“We will protect and defend every inch of NATO territory,” added Stoltenberg. “But we do not seek conflict with Russia, which must immediately stop the war, withdraw all its forces [militares] Ukraine and engage in good faith in diplomatic efforts.”
Responding to questions from journalists present at the Lask air base, Polish President Andrzej Duda reinforced Stoltenberg’s speech, assuring that even if NATO member countries provide humanitarian or military support to Ukraine, the organization, institutionally, has not taken part in the conflict. “As the Secretary General said, we are not sending jets to Ukraine as this would constitute military interference in the Ukrainian conflict. NATO is not a party to this conflict. However, Poland is supporting the Ukrainians with humanitarian aid.”
