Keiv did not ask for NATO troops to be deployed on the ground but wants more support from the allies. This is a point on which the general secretary of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, is particularly clear, interviewed by ANSA shortly after the hour-long conversation with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi, while the president’s words are being discussed throughout Europe Frenchman Emmanuel Macron who has not ruled out the possibility of sending ‘boots on the ground’ to Ukraine, infuriating Moscow (and not only).
Video Stoltenberg: ‘Italy is a key ally, I underlined this to Meloni’
Stoltenberg’s meeting with Meloni it was an opportunity to recognize Italy, a “key ally”, for having contributed well thus far to Kiev’s support and to reiterate to Rome the need for greater commitment. Because Ukraine is in difficulty on the field, also dictated by “our delays”, notes Stoltenberg in a private room at Fiumicino airport, before recalling that a peaceful solution must necessarily pass from the battlefield: that is where “we must convince Putin to negotiate”.
“I praised Italy for being a faithful and important ally of NATO, contributing in many different ways to the Alliance’s missions, including air policing and maritime patrol”, all “very much appreciated”, underlines Stoltenberg, reporting that in the face of Faced with Meloni, a vast range of topics were discussed that are “important for our security at this moment”. Specifically, there was also thanks for the “supply of a Samp-T air defense system together with France”, the Atlantic Alliance said. This is the medium-long range air and anti-missile defense system: another unit could – an unconfirmed hypothesis – be part of the new military aid package for Ukraine which Defense Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed is arriving “shortly ” and on which, however, the details remain classified.
Stoltenberg also recalls that Italy “plays a very important role as president of the G7”, a presidency which it holds “in a critical period for our security” and during the NATO summit in July in Washington where, he says, “we will take strong decisions on ‘Ukraine”.
Meanwhile, “the situation on the battlefield is very difficult, I visited Kiev last week and they updated me on the challenges they face: Russia has gained ground and there is a risk that it will gain further ground. It is not a territory vast – explains Stoltenberg – but to stop all this, to ensure that the Ukrainians are able to defend themselves, they need to send ammunition, they need weapons.
One of the reasons why the Russians have managed to gain ground in recent months is that we have not delivered what we promised”: that is, the United States, which took six months to agree on a new aid package, or the promised million bullets from Europe while many fewer have arrived. “Now things are changing”, adds the NATO secretary general, but the prospect does not concern ‘boots on the ground’: “NATO has no intention of deploying forces in Ukraine. When I visited Ukraine last week the Ukrainians did not ask for NATO troops, what they asked for was more support.” Because the circle, Stoltenberg made clear, can only be closed in this way: “I fear that now it is very difficult to have a meaningful dialogue with Russia. What we would like to see is for them to stop attacking another country. So far, however, we have not seen any real willingness on the Russian side to engage in serious peace talks, because President Putin believes he can win. The only way to convince him that he needs to sit down and negotiate is to demonstrate on the battlefield that he will not win, and the only way to get there is to provide military support to Ukraine,” insists Stoltenberg.
“So – it is the last message from the leader of the Alliance before leaving Rome – if you want a political solution, the way to obtain it is to provide military support to Ukraine”.
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