Ukraine war: “Brutality not seen in Europe since World War II”
“Brutality the likes of which we haven’t seen in Europe since World War II”
“A brutality that has not been experienced in Europe for many decades”
According to Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, NATO wants to discuss further arms deliveries to Ukraine. Regarding the atrocities committed by Russian troops, he said: “We have all seen the horrific images of the murdered civilians in Bucha. Those responsible must be held accountable.”
NATO strongly condemns Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Secretary General Stoltenberg also warns that the world “has not yet seen everything that happened because Russia still controls most of these areas”.
Dhe brutality of the Russian war crimes in Ukraine had not been seen in Europe since the Second World War, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the run-up to a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. Those responsible should be held accountable. He fears more examples of atrocities will be seen once Russia withdraws. “We didn’t see everything that happened because Russia still controls most of those areas.”
NATO is expecting an intensified Russian offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine in the coming weeks. Russia will try to take the entire Donbass and create a land bridge to the already occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.
According to the military alliance, the clear movement of troops away from the capital Kyiv has to do with the fact that the focus of the Russian armed forces is now shifting eastwards. The troops are therefore regrouped and re-armed.
Against the background of these developments, according to Stoltenberg, the foreign ministers of the member states will discuss at a meeting in Brussels this Wednesday and Thursday how the Ukrainian armed forces could be given additional support. “The Allies are determined to continue supporting Ukraine. This includes anti-tank weapons, anti-aircraft systems and other equipment,” said the Norwegian. NATO also wants to provide additional support in defending against cyber attacks.
Despite the tragedy unfolding on the ground, Stoltenberg stressed that there will be no NATO troops on Ukrainian soil and no NATO aircraft in Ukrainian airspace.
Stoltenberg currently sees no chance for a “substantive dialogue” with Russia. Russia is a country that blatantly violates international law, that uses military force against an independent sovereign nation like Ukraine, and that is responsible for atrocities. At the same time, Stoltenberg emphasized that NATO must remain in contact with Russia. Russia is a neighbor and the relationship is also about issues such as risk reduction, transparency, conflict mitigation and arms control issues.
