Oslo/Moscow/Washington: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg issued a serious warning and said, ‘The conflict started by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine is feared to spiral out of control. This conflict could become a comprehensive conflict between Russia and the West.’ Stoltenberg also claimed that NATO is constantly trying to prevent the Russia-Ukraine war from turning into a global conflict. Even as the NATO chief made this claim, the United States announced a new $27.5 million arms deal with Ukraine. Russia strongly denounced the aid while its foreign ministry criticised the move saying the United States was fuelling the conflict in Ukraine by pouring more oil into the flames.
Although a severe winter has begun in Russia and Ukraine, the conflict between the two countries still shows no signs of cooling down. On the contrary, both countries are trying to gain control over the maximum territory while Russia has started intensifying its attacks. Russia is advancing in Donetsk province, and continuous attacks are also being carried out in Kharkiv and Kherson regions. In response, Ukraine has begun targeting cities and bases on Russian territory. Against this background, the warning given by the NATO chiefs becomes noteworthy.
In an interview with a Norwegian news channel, Stoltenberg confessed that Ukraine’s conflict is becoming more deadly. ‘There is a terrible conflict going on in Ukraine. If things go wrong with it, it will take on a more frightening form. It could turn into an all-out conflict between NATO and Russia,’ the head of NATO warned. Stoltenberg also said at this time that there is a possibility of total war, and continuous efforts should be made to prevent more and more countries from being drawn into war.
Even as the NATO chiefs warn of all-out war, the United States has announced new weapons aid to Ukraine. The $275 million assistance includes anti-drone systems with rockets for the HIMARS and air defence systems. The United States has provided nearly $20 billion in defence aid to Ukraine over the past 11 months. US sources have also indicated that moves for supplying ‘Patriot’ missiles, advanced anti-missile systems and ‘cluster munitions’ to Ukraine in the next year are underway. Senior Ukrainian leaders have claimed that in the background of this arms support from the United States, Ukraine can attack Crimea with the help of these weapons. The UK media has reported that the United States has also permitted Ukraine to attack Russian territory.
Russia has reacted strongly to this arms support provided by the United States. Maria Zakharova, the Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, stated that ‘Arms support from the United States is pouring more oil into the flames of the conflict in Ukraine. The United States wants to continue the conflict in Ukraine until 2025. The plans announced by them endorse this opinion.’
Click below to express your thoughts and views on this news:
 |
https://twitter.com/WW3Info |
 |
https://www.facebook.com/WW3Info |
