NATO has warned that the war between Russia and Ukraine may last for years.
And despite Russia withdrawing its troops from the Ukrainian capital city, Kyiv, NATO said it has seen “no indication” that President Vladimir Putin has changed his aim of controlling the whole Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg said this on Wednesday before a meeting in Brussels of foreign ministers of NATO allies.
He warned that the war could last for years.
“We have seen no indication that President Putin has changed his ambition to control the whole of Ukraine,” he said, adding that Putin has not also changed his aim to rewrite the international order, “so we need to be prepared for the long haul.”
He said NATO and its allies must be realistic and “realize that this may last for a long time, for many months or even years.”
Speaking further, the Secretary General warned that the war in Ukraine will have long-term security implications for Europe regardless of when it ends.
“We have seen the willingness by President Putin to use military force to reach his objectives. And that has changed the security reality in Europe for many, many years,” the secretary general said.
