Russia's actions in recent weeks are the most serious escalation in the full-scale war it launched against Ukraine on February 24 of this year. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated this in an interview with DW.
Commenting on the mobilization in the Russian Federation and the possibility of a counteroffensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the onset of cold weather, he said that wars are "unpredictable by their very nature."
"And of course, the Russian forces still have a lot of opportunities in Ukraine. What we have seen in recent weeks and days is a really serious escalation of the conflict since the invasion in February. Because if you put together their mobilization and the forces that they can now be sent to the front, with their partial illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory and dangerous nuclear rhetoric - all this is the biggest escalation since the beginning of the war," the NATO Secretary General emphasized.
He added that currently the Western allies should strengthen their support for Ukraine, in particular, taking into account the onset of winter.
Stoltenberg noted that Western aid proved to be extremely important, as it allowed the Ukrainians to push the Russians out of the occupied territories around Kyiv, then to stop the advance of Russian troops in Donbas, and then to launch a counteroffensive, to regain territories in the east and south.
"Winter is coming, and that was the main message at the NATO defense ministers' meetings. That's why we need to increase the supply of everything from winter clothing, generators, tents. So that we can guarantee that the Ukrainians can continue military operations throughout the winter," Stoltenberg said.
At the same time, he said that the stockpiles of weapons of NATO-allied countries are gradually being depleted. Therefore, its production should be increased.
"We should realize that the aid given to Ukraine has depleted our own reserves. At some stage, we will no longer be able to continue doing this. So we should increase production," Stoltenberg said.
According to him, this was also discussed at a recent meeting of NATO defense ministers. The military bloc is already cooperating with industrial enterprises to replenish stocks of equipment and ammunition.