The conflict in Ukraine could deteriorate further if Western assistance remains insufficient, according to a high-ranking NATO official. In an interview with the German broadcaster Das Erste, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg underscored the risk and pressed for continued and amplified support for Ukraine, regardless of the current tone of political debate in Europe and North America.
“We must be prepared for bad news,” Stoltenberg stated, signaling the unpredictable nature of the security environment. He stressed that the fighting has unfolded in a stepwise fashion, noting that early gains can be followed by new challenges as the war evolves. The Secretary General urged allies to sustain aid in both troughs and peaks, arguing that steady backing is essential to strengthen Ukraine’s defense and deter aggression in the long run.
Stoltenberg acknowledged that members of the alliance are not always able to meet the rising demand for munitions and other military supplies. He described Ukraine’s situation as critically tense and highlighted the need for prudent, high-stakes decisions by Kyiv and its military leadership to manage operations effectively under pressure.
The conversation occurred at a moment when European policy toward weapon production for Ukrainian forces has faced scrutiny. Critics have questioned the balance between immediate battlefield needs and long-term industrial capacity, calling for a more strategic approach to sustain arms supplies without compromising broader regional security goals.
In related remarks, Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, indicated that some measures of military aid may not yield the hoped-for outcomes if pursued in isolation or without broader consensus. He cautioned against assuming that all forms of aid automatically translate into decisive strategic gains, urging careful consideration of each policy step and its implications for the broader Earth-facing security landscape. [Citation: Stoltenberg interview with Das Erste; Borrell remarks on European defense policy.]