Ex-NATO chief says allies should have given Ukraine weapons earlier

Former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg shared in a new interview that one of his regrets was not ensuring Ukraine was stocked with weapons ahead of Russia’s invasion nearly three years ago.

“If there’s anything I in a way regret and see much more clearly now is that we should have provided Ukraine with much more military support much earlier,” Stoltenberg told the Financial Times in an interview published Friday, just days after he left the post. “I think we all have to admit, we should have given them more weapons pre-invasion.”

Stoltenberg suggested that an earlier stockpile could have lessened the blow Ukraine has taken since Russia launched its operation in February 2022.

“Sending lethal weapons was a big discussion. Most allies were against that, pre-invasion . . . they were very afraid of the consequences,” he told the outlet. “I’m proud of what we have done, but it would have been a great advantage if it started earlier. It maybe could even have prevented the invasion, or at least made it much harder for [Russia] to do what they’ve done.”

Nonetheless, the former Norwegian leader said NATO has put Ukraine in a successful position and has even helped them initiate the “crossing” of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s red line without retaliation.

“If anything, I pushed for crossing all those so-called red lines that Putin has put up. And we have crossed many of them, and he hasn’t done anything,” he continued, “The reality is that if President Putin wants to escalate with the use of weapons of mass destruction, he can create all the excuses he needs. So far, we have called his bluff.”

He has been strategically advancing support for Ukraine since he began ushering in a new era for the alliance, creating a five-point plan to organize military support of Kyiv. Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the newest NATO chief, has also made securing financial support to ensure the nation remains independent a top priority.

Many believe this was done in part to prepare for four more years under former President Trump, who has consistently lavished criticism on the alliance.

“I remember some allies just thought that we should just give up and not engage and just try to hide for four years. Some even proposed that we not have NATO summits,” he reflected. “I decided to do the opposite: Engage . . . whether it was a 10 percent likelihood that NATO would collapse under Trump or 90 percent, it didn’t change what we had to do.”

Rutte seemingly agrees with that stance, referring to a commitment made by NATO in 2008 that Ukraine would be welcomed into the alliance.

“There can be no lasting security in Europe without a strong, independent Ukraine,” new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in his first speech since taking office.

“The cost of supporting Ukraine is far, far lower than the cost we would face if we allow Putin to get his way,” Rutte later added.

Trump has promised to end the Russian-Ukraine war swiftly if elected in November. In September, the GOP presidential nominee also promised a good deal for “both sides” ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“We’re going to work very much with both parties to try and get this settled,” he said.

“We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship — as you know — with President Putin,” Trump added, “And I think if we win, I think we’re going to get it resolved very quickly.”