NATO Chief Says 'No Alternative' To Helping Ukraine Stop Putin

Brussels: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday the West has "no alternative" but to keep backing Ukraine's fight against Russia, in the face of doubts over US support to Kyiv.

"It very often happens in wars that when people realise that this may last a long time of course, that is demanding, that is difficult," Stoltenberg told AFP in an interview at NATO's headquarters in Brussels.

"We don't have any alternative. The alternative, to let President Putin win, is a tragedy for Ukraine and is dangerous for us."

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The United States has provided over $40 billion in security aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion and pledged to back Kyiv for as long as it takes. But opposition from hardline Republicans has thrown into question the future of US assistance.

"Despite the difficulties, despite the lack of progress or achievements or territorial gains, we need to continue to support Ukraine," Stoltenberg said.

"We have a responsibility as political leaders but also as individual citizens in our countries to stand up for Ukraine."

Stoltenberg pushed back at fears that the failure by Ukrainian forces to make a breakthrough and doubts over Western commitment fuelled a belief in the Kremlin that it could score a victory over the long-term.

"Putin has not achieved what he wanted in Ukraine," he said. "The war in Ukraine is a big strategic mistake and defeat for Putin."

The alliance chief refused to speculate on whether Ukraine could be granted membership to NATO if it agreed to cede some of its occupied territory to Russia.

"That will just be interpreted as in a way starting some kind of negotiations on behalf of Ukraine and I won't do that," the former Norwegian prime minister said.

"It's for Ukraine to decide what kind of conditions they are willing to accept, it's our responsibility to support Ukraine and that's exactly what we're doing."

Stoltenberg is widely expected to leave his post next year after a decade at the helm that has seen full-scale war return to Europe and NATO's disastrous exit from Afghanistan.

"It's not for me provide an assessment of my own achievements in NATO," he said.

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