NATO chief says give Ukraine what they need to win': Warns on Russia, China ties

NATO chief says give Ukraine what they need to win': Warns on Russia, China ties
by AFP Staff Writers
Munich, Germany (AFP) Feb 18, 2023

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is Saturday expected to tell a major security forum in Germany that allies must provide Ukraine what it needs to defeat Russia, as Kyiv pleads for more weapons.

"We must give Ukraine what they need to win and prevail as a sovereign, independent nation in Europe," he will tell the Munich Security Conference, according to excerpts of his speech seen by AFP.

His comments to world leaders will come ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia sending its troops into Ukraine, bringing war to Europe for the first time in decades and upending the global security landscape.

Allies, led by the United States, have sent billions of dollars of armaments to Kyiv, from artillery to air defence systems, but Ukraine says it needs more to launch a successful counter-offensive.

Stoltenberg will back Kyiv's calls, telling the conference "we must sustain and step up our support for Ukraine.

"Putin is not planning for peace. He is planning for more war."

Opening the conference Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies to speed up their support, while European powers pledged to intensify their backing.

Stoltenberg will also warn that Russia's invasion has exposed the dangers of Europe's over-reliance on authoritarian regimes and should serve as a lesson.

"We should not make the same mistake with China and other authoritarian regimes," he will warn.

The Ukraine war has stoked fears among Western powers that China could try something similar in Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Beijing claims as part of its territory.

The three-day security conference is being attended by dozens of senior figures, including the leaders of Germany and France, US Vice President Kamala Harris, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

NATO chief warns on growing Russia, China ties
Munich, Germany (AFP) Feb 17, 2023 - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned Friday about growing ties between China and Russia, urging countries that believe in "democracy and freedom" to stand together to counter authoritarian powers.

After Russia sent troops into Ukraine, China sought to position itself as neutral but at the same time deepened ties with Moscow, and has not condemned the invasion.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Stoltenberg said NATO was "following closely the increased and stronger relationship between China and Russia".

The countries were conducting military exercises together, as well as naval and air patrols, he said.

"When authoritarian powers are coming closer and working more closely together, it's even more important that all of us that believe in democracy and freedom stand together in NATO, and with our partners throughout the world," he said.

Stoltenberg said that Beijing was watching the war in Ukraine closely.

"If President (Vladimir) Putin wins there, it will impact the calculations and decisions they will make in Beijing," he said.

Russia's war in Ukraine has stoked fears among Western powers that China could try something similar in Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Beijing claims as part of its territory.

The Munich Security Conference, which began Friday, is being attended by world leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, US Vice President Kamala Harris and China's top diplomat Wang Yi.