In an interview with The Times, former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke about the Alliance’s response to the war in Ukraine and explained why NATO refused Ukrainian President Zelensky’s request to impose a no-fly zone in the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. He confirmed that concerns over escalation and direct confrontation with Russia were among the determining factors for this decision.
Stoltenberg noted that while NATO technically had the capability to implement such a measure, the risks of conflict with Russia and the US policy to avoid World War III prevailed. This approach highlighted the contradictions in NATO’s support for Ukraine: providing assistance, but stopping short of actions that could lead to open warfare with Russia.
The former NATO chief admitted that Allied support was often late and insufficient, with key decisions made belatedly. He compared NATO’s actions to the early phase of World War II, when the US waited before joining the conflict, but eventually supplied Britain with weapons through the lend-lease program.
The article points out that history tends to repeat itself when leaders fail to learn from the past. Stoltenberg’s account underscores the lack of proactivity and the limitations of support, leading to protracted conflict and higher losses for Ukraine. The key lesson he draws is the need for timely, robust backing for NATO partners in crisis.
Stoltenberg also recalled that after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Allied military aid to Ukraine was minimal, mainly due to fears of provoking Russia. Only after the full-scale 2022 invasion did support become unprecedented, but in his view, it remained insufficient. He concludes that learning from these historical mistakes is vital, and urges continued and decisive support for Ukraine from the West.
