G. Stoltenberg: Russia will try to fully occupy Donbas and pave the way to Crimea

“Russia will try to take full control of Donbass and create a link to the occupied Crimea,” he said. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg during a press conference ahead of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Council on 6 and 7 April in Brussels, adding that the Allies had time to assist in the preparation of the Ukrainian army.

“We are seeing significant moves for the withdrawal of (Russian) troops from Kyiv with the aim of rebuilding, re-equipping and re-supplying them and now focusing on the east,” Stoltenberg said.

“In the coming weeks, we expect further pressure from Russia in eastern and northern Ukraine to fully occupy Donbass and establish a link with the occupied Crimea,” he added.

Stoltenberg referred to “horrific images of the killing of civilians in Bhutan and other parts of Ukraine, which were under the control of the Russian army a few days ago”, saying it was “unbearable violence that Europe has seen for decades”. “.

NATO allies are determined to provide more weapons to support Ukraine, Stoltenberg said. This support includes anti-tank weapons, air defense systems and other equipment, cyber assistance and equipment to protect against chemical and biological threats.

Mr Stoltenberg said he expected the Allies to decide on assistance to NATO’s other allies (Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina), who are “vulnerable to Russian threats”.

The meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers to be held on April 6 and 7 in Brussels will be attended by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, who will brief on the latest developments, including the negotiations between Kiev and Moscow. The Foreign Ministers of Finland, Sweden and Georgia will also be present.