Russia not preparing for peace - NATO’s Stoltenberg

Russia and its leadership have no desire to start peace negotiations, and therefore partners should continue to support Ukraine by sending the nation more weapons.

That’s according to a doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the NATO defense ministerial on June 15, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We don't see any signs from President Putin, from Russia, that they are actually preparing for peace," Stoltenberg said.

At the same time, he noted, the more ground Ukraine is able to gain through the ongoing counteroffensive, the stronger the country’s hand will be at the negotiating table.

We also know that the more successful the Ukrainian counteroffensive is, the more likely it is that President Putin at some stage will realize that he cannot win this war on the battlefield and he has to sit down (at the negotiation table - ed.)," the head of NATO said, admitting that no one can say exactly when it will happen, and how.

At the same time, he said, it is clear to everyone that if it is not possible to achieve a just and enduring peace, military support for Ukraine must continue because this is the only way for Ukraine to liberate its territories. It is also important to send a “clear message” to the Kremlin that Russia will not be able to win on the battlefield, the NATO chief added.

In addition to the ministerial meeting in Brussels, another meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format will be held on the same day.