Putin’s Nuclear Threats Shouldn’t Deter NATO Support for Ukraine, Stoltenberg Says

By Andrew Gray

BRUSSELS – NATO members should not be discouraged from increasing military support for Ukraine due to Vladimir Putin’s "reckless nuclear rhetoric," outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated in an interview on Monday.

Stoltenberg’s comments came in response to Putin’s recent declaration that Russia might resort to using nuclear weapons if attacked with conventional missiles, warning that any assault on Russia backed by a nuclear power would be considered a joint attack.

This warning from Putin arrives as the United States and its allies are deliberating whether to allow Ukraine to launch conventional Western missiles deep into Russian territory. Ukraine has expressed a desire for permission to strike targets that contribute to Russia’s ongoing military operations.

Stoltenberg, who will pass the leadership of NATO to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday after a decade in charge, noted, "What we have seen is a pattern of reckless Russian nuclear rhetoric and messaging, and this fits into that pattern." He underscored that each time NATO has increased its support to Ukraine with new weapons—such as battle tanks or long-range missiles—the Russians have attempted to deter the alliance. However, Stoltenberg affirmed that these efforts have not succeeded and should not inhibit NATO allies from continuing their support for Ukraine.

He added that NATO does not perceive any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture that would necessitate a shift in its approach.

Regarding the risks associated with NATO’s involvement, Stoltenberg highlighted that the greatest danger would emerge if Putin were to emerge victorious in Ukraine. "If he wins, the message conveyed will be that he can obtain what he wants through military force and threats against NATO allies, making us all more vulnerable," he cautioned. He reiterated that in wartime, there are no risk-free choices.

The U.S. government has historically been hesitant to permit Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with advanced weapons due to concerns over escalating tensions and potential reprisals from Moscow. Additionally, some Western officials question the effectiveness of such strikes in altering the war’s dynamics.

Stoltenberg acknowledged that there is "no silver bullet" capable of turning the tide on the battlefield, yet he posited that strikes within Russia could be significant as part of the broader effort to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against the invasion.

He also asserted that any future negotiations to end the war must include security guarantees for Ukraine from Western nations, especially the United States. Without such assurances, he warned, Russia would disregard any delineated boundaries.

He pointed out that past agreements aimed at resolving the conflict, which began in 2014, have seen Russia continue its aggression with little regard for previous commitments. "We have seen Russia attacking, waiting, and then attacking again," he noted.

While recognizing the challenges in changing Putin’s perspective on Ukraine, Stoltenberg expressed optimism that Russia’s calculus could shift if the costs of the war become sufficiently prohibitive, incentivizing Moscow to acknowledge Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence.