NATO: War In Ukraine Could Last Years, British Army Prepares Troops To Fight
By Donald Standeford, Correspondent - Follow -
Date Published: June 19, 2022 11:30AM UTC
Last Modified: June 19, 2022 11:30AM UTC
EUROPE - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a German newspaper that Russia's war on Ukraine could take years, but that 'we must not let up in supporting Ukraine' he said. "Even if the costs are high". The head of the British army also told troops they must prepare to fight in Europe.
NATO allies have been warned to brace for a years-old war in Ukraine, and Stoltenberg said that the world needs to dig in and be prepared for supporting Ukraine in the long term. "We must prepare for the fact that it could take years. We must not let up in supporting Ukraine," Stoltenberg told Bild am Sonntag. "Even if the costs are high, not only for military support, also because of rising energy and food prices".
Meanwhile, General Sir Patrick Sanders the head of the British army has told troops that they must "prepare to fight in Europe again" and warned about the challenges they face. "There is now a burning imperative to forge an army capable of fighting alongside our allies and defeating Russia in battle," Sir Patrick stated. "We are the generation that must prepare the army to fight in Europe once again".
"Russia's invasion of Ukraine underlines our core purpose to protect the UK by being ready to fight and win wars on land" he added.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Brits need to "steel ourselves for a long war" as Russian President Vladimir Putin resorts to a campaign of 'attrition'. The Prime Minister said that the task of the United Kingdom is to enlist "time on the Ukrainian side" and said that Putin's invasion of Ukraine is "entering a new phase".
"I am afraid that we need to steel ourselves for a long war, as Putin resorts to a campaign of attrition, trying to grind down Ukraine by sheer brutality. The UK and our friends must respond by ensuring that Ukraine has the strategic endurance to survive and eventually prevail" he said.
"Everything will depend on whether Ukraine can strengthen its ability to defend its soil faster than Russia can renew its capacity to attack. Our task is to enlist time on Ukraine's side," he added.
He said that if Russia is successful in securing territory within the nation of Ukraine, then "no nation anywhere would be safe" because "every dictator would feel emboldened to pursue their own ambitions by force".
He added that in order to prevent this from happening, the first step of his plan is to ensure that Ukraine "receives weapons, equipment, ammunition, and training more rapidly than the invader".
