BERLIN
\nNATO\u2019s secretary general called on Europe to increase its arms production to support Ukraine and prevent \u201cpotentially decades of confrontation\u201d with Moscow, in an interview published by German media Saturday.
\nAhead of a key meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels and the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, Jens Stoltenberg insisted that \u201cwe need to reconstitute and expand our industrial base faster, to increase deliveries to Ukraine and refill our own stocks.\u201d
\n\u201cThis means shifting from slow peacetime to high-tempo conflict production,\u201d he told the German Sunday daily Welt am Sonntag.
\nStoltenberg\u2019s comments came amidst growing pleas for shells, ammunition and other military aide from Ukraine as it battles Russian forces into a third year.
\nWestern leaders have also called for greater assistance. Germany\u2019s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Joe Biden urged US lawmakers Friday to approve a long-delayed military aid package for Ukraine, warning that Kyiv could not hold off Russia\u2019s invasion without it.
\n\u201cThe failure of the United States\u2019 Congress in not supporting Ukraine is close to criminal neglect,\u201d Biden said as he hosted Scholz in the Oval Office on Friday.
\nStoltenberg said: \u201cThere is no imminent military threat against any ally. At the same time, we hear regular threats from the Kremlin against NATO countries.\u201d
\nRussia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years has shown that \u201cpeace in Europe cannot be taken for granted,\u201d the NATO chief said, emphasising the importance of protecting countries in the alliance.
\n\u201cAs long as we invest in our security and we stay united, we will continue to deter any aggression,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cNATO does not seek war with Russia, but we need to brace ourselves for potentially decades of confrontation,\u201d he added.
\n\u201cWe monitor closely what Russia does and we have increased our presence in the eastern part of the alliance,\u201d Stoltenberg said.
\n\u201cIf Putin wins in Ukraine, there is no guarantee that Russian aggression will not spread further. So supporting Ukraine now and investing in NATO\u2019s own capabilities is our best defense.\u201d
\nNATO defense ministers will meet in Brussels on February 15, one week ahead of the second anniversary of Russia\u2019s offensive in Ukraine. A meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group will be a key feature of the talks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BERLIN NATO\u2019s secretary general called on Europe to increase its arms production to support Ukraine and prevent \u201cpotentially decades of confrontation\u201d with Moscow, in an interview published by German media Saturday. Ahead of a key meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels and the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, Jens Stoltenberg insisted that \u201cwe […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":337986,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-386408","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n