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NATO chief tells Russians to 'think carefully' before joining army; Ukraine seeks more air defense
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Conflict & Security

NATO chief tells Russians to 'think carefully' before joining army; Ukraine seeks more air defense

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russian citizens to reconsider joining the occupation army due to heavy losses.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine's defensive capabilities and sought enhanced air defense support from NATO.
  • Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's desire for NATO membership, emphasizing how its battle-hardened forces would strengthen the alliance.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg directly addressed Russian citizens, urging them to think carefully before joining the Russian occupation army, citing the significant losses Ukraine has inflicted. Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ankara, Stoltenberg highlighted the immense cost to Russian families.

Imagine what huge losses for families. If you are a young man from Russia and you are considering military service, you could become one of those 30,000 people this month or next month. You know that your President Putin is ready to sacrifice you. So, think carefully before joining the army.

— Jens StoltenbergNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressing Russian citizens during a press conference in Ankara.

"Imagine what huge losses for families. If you are a young man from Russia and you are considering military service, you could become one of those 30,000 people this month or next month," Stoltenberg stated, referencing figures of Russian soldiers neutralized by Ukrainian forces. "You know that your President Putin is ready to sacrifice you. So, think carefully before joining the army."

President Zelenskyy, meanwhile, pressed NATO allies for increased support for Ukraine's air defense systems, particularly interceptors needed to counter Russian missiles. He argued that Ukraine's battle-hardened forces would significantly enhance NATO's defensive capabilities if the country were admitted to the alliance. "Is it really fair that a country and a nation with such defensive capabilities lives outside NATO?" Zelenskyy asked.

Is it really fair that a country and a nation with such defensive capabilities lives outside NATO?

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arguing for Ukraine's NATO membership at the alliance's summit.

Despite past hesitations from some allies, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy reiterated his call for NATO membership. He emphasized that while Ukraine can handle drone attacks, it urgently needs partners' resolve for ballistic missile defense, stating, "Everything else we can do ourselves, but when it comes to air defense, we need the resolve of our partners."

Everything else we can do ourselves, but when it comes to air defense, we need the resolve of our partners.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighting the need for allied support in air defense.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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