Geoff: Russia's full-scale
invasion of Ukraine will soon
enter its third year.
Now, U.S. Support for Ukraine is
in question because of
Republican resistance on capitol
hill.
Nato's secretary general is here
in Washington this week, and he
spoke with our Nick schifrin
from the Pentagon a short time
ago.
Nick: Secretary general Jens
Stoltenberg, welcome back to the
"Newshour."
I want to start on the front
line in Ukraine.
Here is what one of the top U.S.
Defense officials who work on
Ukraine told journalists last
week.
>> We have heard reports from
the Ukrainian government that
they have concerns that units do
not have the stocks and stores
of ammunition that they require.
Nick: From your perspective
today, how short is Ukraine of
the weapons it already needs?
Sec. Stoltenberg: They need more
weapons.
And in particular they need more
ammunition and spare parts and
sustainment and that is exactly
why it is important for not just
the United States all of their
allies commit to long-term
support to Ukraine.
And ensure there is a steady
flow of ammunition and spare
parts, ammunition to Ukraine.
Nick: There are long-term
American contracts that will be
going to Ukraine for the next
couple years, but the task at
hand in Washington is congress
is blocking the $60 billion the
administration wants to send
Ukraine weapons today.
At this point, what do you
believe nato members are able
and willing to do, given that
the U.S. Right now cannot send
further weapons short-term to
Ukraine?
Sec. Stoltenberg: I believe all
allies, also the United States,
will continue to provide support
to the Ukraine.
The U.S. Has demonstrated
leadership, provided 10% of
support to Ukraine.
But the reality is that European
allies have also really stepped
up.
And if you take them altogether,
European allies and Canada, the
total support is actually bigger
than total support from the
United States.
I see that as there is actually
broad support for continued
support in the U.S. Congress for
support for Ukraine.
The challenge is that this is
linked to other important
issues, the situation on the
border.
It is not for me to go into that
discussion, but I just hope
there is a way to find an
agreement on Ukraine.
Nick: As we started this
interview acknowledging Ukraine
needs weapon today, doesn't even
have enough today for what it
needs, and U.S. Officials are
beginning to acknowledge that
2024 is likely to be a year in
which Ukraine just needs to hold
the line, and it is actually
2025 when American weapons come
online, when more European
weapons come online, and Ukraine
weapons come online as well.
That in the spring of 2025,
Ukraine can launch another
offensive.
Is that how you see it?
Sec. Stoltenberg: I will not go
into the operational issues.
It is for Ukraine to comment on
those issues.
Then I think it's extremely
important also are timber --
also to remember when we started
when Russia invaded Ukraine in
February 2022.
At that time, most experts felt
Ukraine would come under Russian
control within weeks and Kyiv
would be taken by Russia within
days.
What we have seen is that
Ukraine has been able to
liberate 50% of the land that
Russia controlled in the
beginning of the full-fledged
war.
They have been able to push back
the Russian fleet from the
western part of the black sea,
so they have opened a corridor
for the export of grain and
other commodities.
That is extremely impressive.
And strikes with cruise missiles
from the U.K. And France, they
have been able to inflict heavy
losses on the Russian armed
forces.
So they have achieved a lot, and
they have demonstrated that the
support we have provided them is
making a huge difference on the
battlefield every day.
Nick: But today, Ukraine has
still not found a solution for
the defenses that Russia has set
up, especially in southern
Ukraine.
Right?
Sec. Stoltenberg: Wars are
unpredictable and wars are
difficult, and no one can say
exactly how this war will
develop in the next year.
But what we do know is that the
Ukrainians have the courage, the
determination to defend their
own land.
And we also know that when they
get the support from us, they
are able to inflict heavy losses
and gain territory in the fight
with the invading Russian
forces.
We nee to standby Ukraine,
both in good times would also in
bad times.
We cannot only be good weather
supporters.
And therefore, I count on all
allies to continue to support
Ukraine, not only because it is
in our security interest to
ensure president Putin wins in
Ukraine.
If he wins, then all leaders, in
China, it emboldens them to
violate international law, use
force, and we must prevent that
from happening.
Nick: Let's talk about political
support for Ukraine.
Last summer nato members dropped
the requirement for Ukraine to
complete a membership action
plan before it joins nato.
Will there be more concrete
measures taken at the summit in
Washington in July for nato's
75th anniversary that will send
the message to both Kyiv and
Moscow that this war will end
with Ukraine inside nato?
Sec. Stoltenberg: I cannot
preempt the exact conclusions
from the Washington summit.
But first of all, that will be
an important summit we want to
mark the 75th anniversary of the
most successful alliance in
history.
And I expect that allies will
agree to further steps to move
Ukraine in closer to nato.
Ukraine will become a member of
this alliance.
That has been clearly stated by
allies.
And we will move them closer by
turning a two-step process into
a one-step process before they
can become a member, which
shortened the path for
membership by establishing an
dado council.
We are deepening political
cooperation.
And by helping them to ensure
the Ukrainian armed forces are
fully interoperable with nato
forces.
All of this is moving Ukraine
closer to nato, demonstrating
that Putin made a big mistake
that he wanted to prevent
Ukraine from joining the eu.
It's been the exact opposite.
Nick: Let me ask you about a
little American politics.
Donald Trump has won the first
two Republican contests in the
U.S.
We went back to the archive and
found this moment from a
breakfast you held with the
former president in 2018.
>> Germany as far as I'm
concerned is captive to Russia
because it is getting so much
energy from Russia.
So, we're supposed to protect
Germany, but they are getting
their energy from Russia.
Explain that.
And it can't be explained, you
know that.
Nick: Does that kind of moment
bring back thoughts with your
relationship with the former
president?
Sec. Stoltenberg: I am the
secretary-general of nato,
responsible for working with 31
allies.
And of course allies are elected
, they elect different political
leaders.
The strength of the alliance is
that despite differences,
despite different political
parties in power in different
countries on both sides of the
atlantic, we have always been
able to unite around a core
task, to protect and defend each
other.
And I expect that to continue to
be the case.
Because it is a great advantage
for the United States to have
nato.
Nato is important for European
security, but nato is also
important for the United States.
Together, we represent 50% of
the world's gdp, and that makes
us and the west agar.
Nick: Some governments are
making contingency plans if
Donald Trump were to become
president again and withdraw
from nato.
Is nato making those contingency
plans?
Sec. Stoltenberg: I am confident
the United States will remain
committed -- a committed nato
ally because in the interest of
the United States.
When they see the size of the
military buildup in China and
the size of the Chinese economy.
I also see broad bipartisan
support for nato in the united
States.
And then when you listen to what
former president trump has
stated many times, his primary
criticism is not about nato, it
is about nato allies not
spending enough on nato, not
investing enough on defense.
Last year all allies increased
spending, more allies spend 2%
of gdp, and in total we added
$450 billion U.S.
So different organizations have
called for different spending.
Now this is happening.
Nick: Jens Stoltenberg,
secretary-general of nato, thank
you very much.
Sec. Stoltenberg: Thank you.
♪♪