Ukrainians are pushing back Russians in the offensive and might pass through certain fortified territories occupied by the aggressors, stated NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He emphasized that it is the Ukrainians themselves who should make decisions on the battlefield, as he conveyed in an interview with CNN.
“Ukrainians are gradually gaining positions. That is, they are pushing back Russians. They may go through some of these well-fortified territories. Even minefields. And that’s why it’s just even more important to support them. Because we all know that this is the first battle. It’s a close-quarter fight,” Stoltenberg said.
According to him, there is a constant dialogue among NATO allies and between them and Ukraine, with Alliance members providing “unprecedented” training and consultations for Ukraine.
However, the NATO Secretary General noted that it is the Ukrainians themselves who should be in command on the battlefield, making such “difficult and tough” decisions.
“Once again, we have seen how Ukrainians consistently exceed expectations. We need to remember how it all started. In the past years, when Russia invaded Ukraine, experts believed that Ukraine would only hold out for a few days or weeks. Now they have liberated the north around Kyiv, the east, and Kharkiv, achieving even more victories,” noted Stoltenberg.
According to him, NATO needs to trust the Ukrainians. The Alliance advises, assists, and supports, but it is the Ukrainians who make the decisions, he emphasized.