Egon Ramms
Ex-Nato general: How the alliance could support Ukraine without soldiers
Ex-Nato General Egon Ramms in an archive photo from 2007
© Diemer Steffen / Picture Alliance
Since Ukraine is not a NATO member, Russia’s attack on the country is not an alliance case. There will be no direct military aid. Nevertheless, the alliance could support the country, thinks a former NATO general.
After the Russian attack on Ukraine, NATO activated its defense plans and strengthened its eastern flank. In an emergency, the NATO Response Force (NRF) could also be deployed to protect member countries such as Poland or the Baltic States. As determined as NATO is, according to Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, to defend its members, it will not interfere directly, i.e. with its own soldiers, in the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian armed forces.
+++ Note: You can read all current developments in the live blog +++
Background at stern+: How, under Putin, the dictator Stalin became a glorious warlord again
German ex-NATO general Egon Ramms outlined how the alliance could still help Ukraine. From 2007 to 2010, Ramms was commander-in-chief of the Allied Joint Force Command in Brunssum, making him one of NATO’s highest-ranking commanders. He, too, is convinced that the alliance will do everything to deter Putin at the NATO borders, but not be drawn directly into the war. The consequences would be too unpredictable.
NATO could provide indirect support
Nevertheless, according to Ramms, NATO can support the armed forces. You could contribute, for example, reconnaissance results. Or it could provide support in cyber wars – according to Ramms, both in cyber defense and by switching off communication systems in Russian troops.
According to Ramms, the fact that Putin actually attacked Ukraine surprised him too. “I still ascribed a remnant of reason to this man and I also expected that his military leadership and other politicians, for example, would advise him accordingly in this direction,” he told NDR.
Source: NDR