NATO: Russia Seeks to Use Winter as Weapon to Deprive Ukraine of Heating, Water

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that Russia seeks to use winter as a weapon; by launching deliberate attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in order to deprive the Ukrainian people of gas, heating and water.

Stoltenberg said - in a statement to CNN on Friday, that this once again reflects the importance of putting an end to the Russian military operation in Ukraine, stressing that the alliance will continue to stand by Ukraine, especially since it is in its security interest to ensure that Russia does not win in Ukraine.

With regard to the possibility of reaching a diplomatic settlement of the conflict, Stoltenberg stressed that the Ukrainian people are paying the biggest price in this war, saying, "The alliance is sacrificing money, but Ukraine sacrifices blood with casualties daily, so the decision rests with the Ukrainians alone, especially since the alliance is not a party to the conflict. It only seeks to help Ukraine defend itself, as the right to self-defense is enshrined in the UN Charter.”

He pointed out that most wars end at the negotiating table, but what is discussed at the negotiating table depends on the strength of the parties on the battlefield, so in order for Ukraine to appear as an independent and sovereign state during the negotiations, it must be supported militarily.

He welcomed Germany's offer to provide missile systems to Poland to help it enhance its air defense capabilities, pointing out that this is in line with what the alliance is doing, especially after the Russian military operation in Ukraine, where the presence of NATO forces was increased in the eastern wing of NATO, and different types of systems were deployed. Air defense to ensure the protection and defense of every inch of NATO territory, and to avoid the escalation of the conflict outside Ukraine.

Stoltenberg stressed that it is necessary to increase the air defense capabilities of NATO members in the eastern wing and the Baltic states, and to deploy more air defense systems in Ukraine given the intense attacks that are witnessing daily, targeting civilian infrastructure, which requires Kyiv's help shoot down these missiles and drowns.