NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told the German newspaper that the war in Ukraine could last for years Photo am Sonntag He said. “We must prepare for the fact that it may take years. We must not abandon Ukraine. Even if the costs are high, not only for military support, but also because of high energy and food prices.”

The Secretary-General of NATO said that supplying Ukrainian forces with modern weapons from the West increases the chances of liberating the Donets Basin in eastern Ukraine from Russian occupation.

In eastern Ukraine, Russia has escalated its offensive in the past two days. This was reported by British intelligence services and the Ukrainian regional governor.

The Russians made new attempts to reach the city of Izyum. From there they wish to withdraw to the slightly more eastern city of Severodonetsk, to take full control of this site. to get†

According to the Ukrainian governor of that region, the Kremlin also deployed additional reservists to capture the city. Russia already controls almost the entire city and would control all the cities in Luhansk Oblast if it were fully controlled.

As fighting continues in the east, both Ukraine and Russia face arms shortages. Defense expert Ku Cullen, who follows the battle in Ukraine for NU.nl, said: “Under these circumstances, it is actually US President Biden who decides how long the battle will last. Gradually the United States has become the only arms supplier that has defense from Ukraine. “

A new aid package for Ukraine will be discussed at the NATO summit in Madrid later this month. NATO chief Stoltenberg said earlier this week that it would help the country transition from old Soviet-era weapons to modern Western weapons.