In the coming weeks, Ukraine should prepare for a tougher offensive by Russian troops. This means more destruction of significant infrastructure and residential areas.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this in an interview with Welt am Sonntag.
"We must prepare for an offensive by the Russians and even more brutality, even more casualties and even more destruction of vital infrastructure and residential areas," Stoltenberg said.
According to the official, Russia's current offensive in the Donbass has not yet gained momentum because "Ukrainian troops are vigorously defending themselves."
"We see a strong contrast between Russian and Ukrainian forces: Ukrainian troops are courageous and know what they are fighting for. Russian troops, on the other hand, suffer from poor leadership, low morale, and many do not know what they are fighting for," the secretary general said.
Stoltenberg warned of the need to be prepared for a long-term war in Ukraine that could last months or even years."
"In the long run, Ukraine can not only conduct its defense with weapons from the Soviet Union, but also switch to modern Western weapons. Only in this way can Kiev permanently successfully prevent a Russian invasion," the NATO secretary general concluded.
