NATO chief expects “even greater distress” in Ukraine
WELT special – Explosions in Lviv – Evacuation of Mariupol failed again
Explosions are reported from the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. In other cities, a monastery and a mosque were apparently targeted by Russian missiles. Our reporters report on the current situation in Ukraine. Follow all developments here and at WELT on TV.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warns Vladimir Putin against the use of chemical weapons in an interview with WELT AM SONNTAG. Meanwhile, the alliance is planning more deterrence in Eastern Europe. Defense Minister Lambrecht also specified her rearmament plans.
Nato General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg has expressly warned Moscow against an attack on Ukraine with weapons of mass destruction. “Absurd claims” by Russia about chemical and biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine have been heard, Stoltenberg told WELT AM SONNTAG.
“Now that these false claims have been made, we must remain vigilant because it is possible that Russia itself could plan chemical weapons operations under this fabric of lies,” the alliance chief said. “That would be a war crime.”
The Kremlin invents “false pretexts in an attempt to justify what cannot be justified”. Washington and London had previously rejected the Russian side’s accusation that Ukraine was preparing to use such weapons.
In Ukraine, the brutality of the Russian attack is increasing. The Russian military used cruise missiles to bomb cities in the western part of the country. According to the British Ministry of Defence, Putin’s troops are 25 kilometers from the center of Kiev. The situation of hundreds of thousands of trapped residents in the city of Mariupol is becoming increasingly dramatic.
Clear message to Putin
Stoltenberg urged Moscow to change course: “My message to President Putin is clear: end this war, withdraw all forces and commit to diplomacy.” The NATO Secretary General fears a further escalation.
“The people of Ukraine are resisting the invasion with courage and determination, but the coming days will probably bring even greater hardship.” Stoltenberg again ruled out an intervention by the transatlantic defense alliance. The alliance is defensively oriented.
“We are not looking for a conflict with Russia.” He has heard calls for NATO to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine. “But that would mean that the Russian forces would have to be attacked, and that would risk direct confrontation and an uncontrollable escalation.” The war must end, not escalate, Stoltenberg stressed.
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NATO is now strengthening its defenses. “Many alliance states, including Germany, have moved significantly more troops to the eastern flank of the alliance,” said Stoltenberg. The NATO Response Force has been activated for the first time to defend the alliance, 130 aircraft are on high alert and more than 200 ships are deployed. “We will continue to protect our allies.” On Wednesday, the NATO defense ministers want to discuss for the first time how to strengthen their presence in eastern and south-eastern Europe in the long term.
Meanwhile, Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht is specifying her armament plans for the Bundeswehr for the first time. In an article for WELT, the SPD politician writes: “With every report and every terrible message from the war zone, we see that anyone who wants to live in freedom needs military strength to protect this freedom.”
The operational readiness of the Bundeswehr must increase significantly. In order to achieve this quickly, Lambrecht rejects “overambitious ideal projects that in reality take too long, are too expensive or can never be implemented”.
A description that previously applied primarily to European armaments projects. According to Lambrecht, the focus is now “on proven, mature products that are available on the market”.