Dana Bash of CNN interviewed NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg this morning on its “State of the Union” broadcast. When Bash asked if NATO would increase the shipment of equipment and armaments, Stoltenberg made this unnerving answer: “NATO is sending in more as we speak…. We admire the courage of the Ukrainian President and the people… NATO will move in more air defense measures, and help Ukraine defend itself according to the NATO charter.” Ukraine is not a NATO member and the NATO Article 5 does not apply to it.
Bash questioned Stoltenberg regarding the announcement by Putin, ordering his deterrence forces—including nuclear weapons—on high alert, and asked how concerned was he about that?
STOLTENBERG: The new statements from President Putin just add to the very aggressive rhetoric we have seen from Russia for many months, and especially the last couple of weeks, where they are not only threatening Ukraine, but also threatening NATO-allied countries, and demanding that we should remove all our forces from the eastern part of the alliance.
So, this is part of that, and just underlines the importance of NATO allies standing together, North America and Europe standing together, and that’s exactly what we are doing. And, I’d like to commend the United States for its leadership, and also the deployment of additional U.S. forces to Europe.
