Ukraine experiences particular technical difficulties, but not strategic ones, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said after Russia achieved some victories on the battlefield, in particular the capture of Avdiivka. The official noted that there are no preconditions for the war to end shortly, but assured that Ukraine will continue to benefit from full NATO support, IPN reports.
Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he did not rule out the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine. Mircea Geoană contradicted the French leader, saying that the North Atlantic Alliance doesn’t intend to send troops to Ukraine. He assured that the member states will provide consistent support to Kiev and there is the possibility that Ukraine will join NATO.
“We fully respect the right of nations and leaders to come up with fresh ideas. But at NATO we have no intention and no plans to deploy troops in Ukraine. What we are determined to do is continue to support Ukraine and avoid escalation with Russia, something we have done satisfactorily so far. This is especially important after Ukraine started negotiations for accession to the EU and is moving closer to NATO. We cannot say when, but one day independent sovereign Ukraine will be part of both NATO and the EU. This war is likely to continue for some time. So NATO will continue to ensure that we support Ukraine and avoid escalation with Russia.,” NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană stated in an interview with El País daily.
He noted that although Russia managed to capture Avdiivka, this war is very dynamic and NATO will help Ukraine resist on the battlefield and will discourage military aggression in Europe.
“If I look at the glass half full, I see Ukraine pushing the Russian fleet from the Black Sea, away from Crimea towards the Sea of Azov. That’s a huge success. I see Ukraine with our help restoring the Black Sea export route for Ukrainian grains to Africa and to the rest of the Middle East. I see some technical difficulties for Ukraine, but no strategic difficulties. So, let’s have confidence that as Russia has switched into a war economy, and receives support from North Korea and Iran, that we also ramp up our production, our industrial base, to help Ukraine but also to refill our own needs for our own security and defense and deterrence in Europe,” said Mircea Geoană.
