NATO chief Stoltenberg: It’s not Ukraine’s fault

“The investigation is underway and we have to wait for the results, but there is no indication that this was the result of a deliberate attack. There are also no indications that Russia is preparing to conduct offensive operations against NATO. Perhaps it has to do with Ukrainian anti-aircraft guns against a Russian cruise missile. This was stated by the Secretary General NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg has just given a press conference following a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC).With this, the NATO chief confirms earlier statements by Polish President Andrzej Duda.He said it was “old material from the Soviet Union” but “there is no evidence that Russia called it” .

Article 5 and 4 of the NATO Treaty. However, NATO places the responsibility on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Let me be clear, this is not Ukraine’s fault. Russia takes full responsibility here.

Putin created these dangerous situations

Stoltenberg pointed out that it was Russia that invaded Ukraine in February and that everything that happened yesterday is a direct result of that. This is a result of Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and yesterday’s massive wave of missile attacks. Obviously, Ukraine has the right to shoot down those missiles.

Stoltenberg could not or did not want to determine if fragments of the Russian cruise missile, which Ukrainian air defenses were targeting, had been found. He didn’t want to prejudge the investigation. Ukraine has already indicated that it wants to conduct the investigation.

Stoltenberg lamented that China does not condemn Russia much more and is aloof from UN resolutions. They also sometimes include Russia in the discourse. But again, Vladimir Putin is responsible for this. Continuing non-discrimination (Failure to distinguish between military and civilian targets, ed.). His responsibility is the Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilians. He creates these dangerous situations and he can end the war. When Vladimir Putin and Russia stop fighting, peace will come. If President Zelensky and Ukraine stop fighting, there will be no more Ukraine.

Focus on air defense

The incident is no reason for NATO to change course or to quickly send additional forces to the eastern border. NATO countries will continue to provide material support to Ukraine. Today a meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group is taking place to coordinate support to the country. “The focus there now is on air defense,” Stoltenberg said, noting that many countries have already made important contributions. This includes Nasams anti-aircraft defenses, but also Anti-drone systemsto ward off drone attacks.

NATO also has plenty of anti-aircraft defenses in Poland itself. Stoltenberg was asked if he should take action to avoid yesterday’s incident. We are available 24/7 with radars on the ground and in the air. But the anti-aircraft missile has no attack characteristics. This says nothing about our ability to intervene in an actual attack.