By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – In an unusual move, outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg lashed out at allies for not providing Ukraine in time with the weapons it needs to stave off Russia’s invasion of the war-torn nation.
Speaking on the train taking him into Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital that has endured massive attacks, Stoltenberg told Ukrainians that his military alliance’s members failed to live up to their promises of military aid in recent months.
However, he pledged that the flow of arms and ammunition would now increase. “The United States spent six months to agree a package [of $61 billion], and European allies have not delivered the ammunition we promised. But now I’m confident that things will change,” he said in comments monitored by Worthy News on Tuesday.
Yet Stoltenberg acknowledged that the slow phase of arms deliveries to Kyiv impacted the battle zone, with security officials saying that Russia gained the initiative. At the same time, ammunition-starved Ukrainian forces were forced onto the defensive.
Russian troops captured several villages in eastern Ukraine, achieving quick but limited advances against thinly stretched Ukrainian forces, according to Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskiy.
“Of course, the fact that we have not delivered what we promised has put a dent … into the trust,” Stoltenberg said.
UNANNOUNCED VISIT
He spoke on an unannounced visit to Ukraine, where he held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and addressed Ukraine’s parliament, the Rada.
He noted that Russian forces have gained the initiative – at least in part due to a shortage of arms and ammunition from Kyiv’s Western partners. “I will also be very honest with President Zelenskiy and also with the Rada that NATO allies have not delivered what we have promised over the last months,” Stoltenberg stressed.
The NATO chief’s visit, his third since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 – comes as Kyiv tries to increase the number of men fighting on the frontlines after thousands were killed and injured.
In recent days, Kyiv announced that men of military age will no longer be able to obtain passport documents abroad, putting pressure on the many young men among millions of refugees to return to Ukraine.
Since last week, men aged 18 to 60 can obtain travel documents exclusively at the migration service in Ukraine, where they potentially face being drafted into the army.
They may replace the many exhausted, injured, or killed forces after a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive last year.
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