The deputy secretary general of the alliance told top military leaders from around Europe on Wednesday that Russia is preparing for a protracted conflict and that NATO must be prepared “for the long haul” and help Ukraine for however long it takes.
Mircea Geoana stated that NATO countries must increase their defense spending, increase the production of military goods, and utilize new technology to prepare for future conflicts.
NATO leaders are anticipated to debate how members might increase the delivery of weapons, training, and support to Ukraine in the upcoming months and how they can further fortify their defenses as Russia’s war on Ukraine approaches the one-year mark.
Geoana said that Russia had deployed over 200,000 extra troops and said, “We have no sign that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s aims have altered.
“Therefore, we need to be ready for the long haul. The year 2023 will be challenging, so we must continue to assist Ukraine.
U.S. Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, head of the Ukrainian military, and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met in private on Tuesday in an undisclosed location in southeast Poland, close to the Ukrainian border.
He will also communicate Zaluzhnyi’s worries to the other military officials there.
When it became apparent on Monday that the head of Ukraine wouldn’t be able to attend the summit, Milley, and Zaluzhnyi swiftly scheduled a meeting.
Milley would brief the NATO leaders on “the tactical and operational situations on the battlefield and what the military needs are for that,” according to Army Col. Dave Butler, Milley’s spokesperson.
The head of the NATO Military Committee, Adm. Rob Bauer, told the chiefs’ meeting on Wednesday that the alliance must keep evolving to handle upcoming conflicts.
According to Bauer, a member of the Royal Netherlands Navy, the conflict has also taught us that you must be prepared to fight both today’s and tomorrow’s battles.
“Bits and bots are as much a part of modern warfare as mud and blood.”
He mentioned that the last meeting of the NATO Russia Council took place around a year ago.
He asserted that NATO had demonstrated its capacity to expand and relocate its military presence as required swiftly.
Additionally, he reaffirmed the alliance’s readiness to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.
The alliance support, he added, has made a difference on the battlefield and will continue. Putin, he claimed, “misjudged the scale and bravery of Ukrainian people, military forces, and leadership, and underestimated our unity and our solidarity with Ukraine.”
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