Stoltenberg regrets Ukraine did not receive more weapons much earlier

Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said he regrets that Ukraine should have been provided with much more weapons much earlier.

He said this in an interview with Financial Times, Ukrinform reports.

"If there's anything I in a way regret and see much more clearly now is that we should have provided Ukraine with much more military support much earlier. I think we all have to admit, we should have given them more weapons pre-invasion. And we should have given them more advanced weapons, faster, after the invasion. I take my part of the responsibility," Stoltenberg said.

According to him, sending lethal weapons to Ukraine was a big discussion in NATO.

"Most allies were against that, pre-invasion … they were very afraid of the consequences. I'm proud of what we have done, but it would have been a great advantage if it started earlier. It maybe could even have prevented the invasion, or at least made it much harder for [Russia] to do what they've done," Stoltenberg added.