NATO points out Putin's strategic mistakes in war with Ukraine

The NATO Secretary General said this before the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the Ramstein military base in Germany, Ukrinform reports.

According to Stoltenberg, more than a year after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin has no control over the country as he had planned.

“President Putin made several big strategic mistakes when he invaded Ukraine. The first was a total underestimation of the Ukrainian army. He thought he would control Ukraine within weeks and capture Kyiv in a few days. He also greatly underestimated NATO allies and our partners, as well as their determination to support Ukraine,” the Secretary General said.

He also recalled that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had already driven the Russian army out of some of the occupied territories, including near Kyiv. Recalling his visit to Bucha, he said he was impressed by what he saw. In addition, he said, Ukrainian troops had pushed back Russian forces in the east, around Kharkiv, and in the south, around Kherson.

“We are now helping them to liberate more of their land by providing more modern military systems. In terms of tanks, along with older systems, allies are supplying more and more new vehicles, such as Leopard 2, Challenger from the UK, and American Abrams. We also provide infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers - a lot of armored vehicles and ammunition. All of these are very powerful capabilities that will enable Ukrainians to win,” the Alliance Secretary General said. 

• On Friday, April 21, a regular meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format is taking place in Germany, with more than 50 countries participating, including NATO allies and representatives of partner countries.

• Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin met before a meeting of the Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base.

• On Friday, April 21, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin announced three main topics to be discussed by the allies at the Ramstein meeting. Air defense, ammunition, and support equipment are on the agenda.