GNATO Secretary General Stotenberg: allies have trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian military personnel, the United States, Britain, Canada and other NATO members have trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian military, now the Ukrainian army is prepared and equipped better than ever before, Stoltenberg said
The North Atlantic Alliance has supported Ukraine for many years, and with the beginning of the Russian military operation, this assistance has intensified, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with CNN.
“We must remember that NATO allies, such as the United States, Great Britain, Canada and some others, have been training Ukrainian troops for years. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian servicemen, who were trained by NATO allies, are currently fighting on the front line,” he said.
According to Stoltenberg, the Ukrainian forces are now much better equipped and prepared than ever before.
A CNN journalist, asking about what kind of assistance NATO will provide to Ukraine, asked if it includes the supply of Soviet-made tanks. She also recalled that French President Emmanuel Macron opposed the transfer of tanks and aircraft to Ukraine, calling such a step a “red line” that could draw NATO into a direct conflict with Russia. Stoltenberg did not answer the question, pointing out that “it is more important to do something, rather than announce each specific step.”
Stoltenberg has repeatedly said that the alliance supports Kiev, but does not act as a party to the conflict and will not send troops to Ukraine. The alliance rejected Kiev’s request to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
Russia is seeking the neutral status of Ukraine. In March, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, after repeated attempts to get a clear answer from NATO, said that he had “cooled down” on the issue of membership in it. According to him, Kiev has been hearing about the open doors of the alliance for years, but also realized that it “cannot enter there, and it must be recognized.”
Subscribe to Telegram RBC Keep up to date with the latest news even under lockdown