Putin is preparing for a long war, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Joane said on Wednesday. In his introductory speech at the meeting of the heads of the Alliance's defense departments in Brussels, Joane called on NATO to prepare for a long war and assured that the Alliance would support Ukraine as long as necessary.
"As [NATO Secretary General Jens] Stoltenberg has observed, it is dangerous to underestimate Russia. Putin is preparing for a long war. He has already mobilized more than 200,000 additional troops, most of whom are undergoing training. He is ramping up Russian military production and acquiring more weapons from other authoritarian regimes, including with Iran," says Joane. "But perhaps the most important thing is that we see no signs that Putin's goals have changed. So we must be prepared for a long-term confrontation. 2023 will be a difficult year and we will support Ukraine as long as necessary."
Putin's goal in the war is to seize control of Ukraine and take away people's freedom, Joanne says. But, Joane says, Putin miscalculated in that he underestimated the bravery of Ukrainians, the armed forces and leadership, the unity and solidarity of Ukraine, and the reaction of NATO countries.
The head of NATO's military committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, noted that the war could end today if Putin decides to stop it, but while the war continues, NATO will continue to support Ukraine.
Bauer reacted to the plane crash in Brovary. On January 18, at least 14 people died as a result of a helicopter crash near a kindergarten and an apartment building in Brovary, Kyiv region, according to the Ukrainian authorities. The Prosecutor General's Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the reasons for the downfall of the rotorcraft are unknown, various versions are being considered, and investigators are establishing them. On board were the heads of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
"While the cause of the incident has not been determined, it is yet another stark reminder of the senseless destruction and extreme grief that this war brings," Bauer said.
A meeting of NATO officials is taking place in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday. A separate session will be devoted to the situation in Ukraine. The participants of the meeting will be addressed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny, the Alliance website says.
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