It was a mistake, we should have given more weapons to Ukraine earlier, says former NATO chief

“I am proud of what we have done, but it would have been a big advantage if it had started earlier,” said the former head of the Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, when he assessed the aid to the Ukraine, the server writes. politics.

Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, headed NATO from 2014 to 2024, and was replaced by former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday. This makes him the second longest serving leader in the history of the federation.

According to him, sending lethal weapons to Ukraine was the subject of much discussion before Moscow’s full-scale attack in early 2022.

“If there is one thing that I regret in a way, and I see it much more clearly now, it is that we should have given much more military aid to Ukraine much earlier. ” he said Jens Stoltenberg list of the Financial Times.

“Most of the Allies were against the attack. They were very concerned about the consequences,” he said, adding that he was very proud of how the federation handled the situation. According to Stoltenberg, if it had started earlier, it would have been a big advantage. “Maybe it could even prevent an attack, or at least make it harder for Russia to do what it did.”

Kiev has begged its Western allies for newer weapons, including long-range missiles, battle tanks and the Patriot air defense system during the war in Ukraine. Some states are sending weapons to Kiev, others, such as Germany, have finally backed down on certain requests, and others have refused to provide assistance.

Ukraine’s allies “should have provided the state under attack with newer weapons, and faster,” Stoltenberg said. “I take my share of the responsibility,” he said.

During Stoltenberg’s ten-year tenure at the head of NATO, the alliance withdrew from Afghanistan at the initiative of the United States. Stoltenberg said NATO’s swift withdrawal from the country was tantamount to breaking a promise not to leave until “the Afghans can defend their own country and ensure that the Taliban does not return.” “.

Stoltenberg also led NATO under former US President Donald Trump and was praised for keeping the alliance together, even as Trump again. a threat withdraw unless other members increase their military spending. “Whether the probability of NATO falling apart under Trump was 10% or 90%, it didn’t change what we had to do,” Stoltenberg said.

Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Stoltenberg were replaced on Tuesday that is expected He will take a new role as chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Politico wrote.