- History books will show that Ukraine has transformed modern warfare, said a top NATO admiral.
- Adm. Rob Bauer says "every success" is "one step closer to victory" for Ukraine.
History books will chronicle how Ukraine has transformed modern warfare in its battles to defeat Putin's invasion, the head of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, said.
That Ukraine's Armed Forces are moving forward every day, Adm. Bauer said, and that NATO would continue to support the war-torn country in its fight to drive back the Russian invasion.
Bauer made the remarks in Oslo during the opening of a meeting of the alliance's chiefs of defense, in Norway's capital.
"Every day, we are in awe of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters in uniform," Bauer told the NATO Military Committee Conference. "They are fighting a war on an unprecedented scale, in uncharted doctrinal territory. History books will show Ukraine has transformed modern warfare. And they are moving forward every day. Every success is one step closer to victory."
Bauer was speaking at the end of a week when Ukraine had scored a series of dramatic victories against Putin's Black Sea fleet and seized ground around the fiercely contested city of Bahkmut.
Bauer noted that Russian troops continue to lose more and more ground in temporarily occupied territories, and Russia itself is suffering from the economic impact of sanctions and diplomatic isolation. Russia is forced to cooperate with unreliable international actors and increasingly depends on them.
At the same time, according to the Dutch lieutenant admiral, the Russian leadership is still convinced that it will be able to "outlast" the collective determination of the Ukrainian people and all those who stand by them.
On Sunday, Jens Stoltenberg, the head of NATO, predicted that Ukraine's allies must prepare for "a long war," per the Kyiv Post.
Stoltenberg told Germany's Funke media group that "most wars last longer than expected when they first begin."
The NATO chief said that Ukraine would "eventually" become a military alliance member.
NATO's strength has swelled to 3.5M military personnel
Russia has been preparing for this confrontation for years. At the same time, the Russian disinformation machine continues its attempts to sow discord and division among Western democracies, said Adm. Bauer.
"From the first day of Russia's war against Ukraine until the very last, and also during the many, many years after that, we will support Ukraine in its rightful choice for freedom and democracy. And we will stand together to protect all we hold dear," he said.
He reiterated that after Sweden completes the process of joining NATO, the number of military personnel protecting the military alliance will increase to 3.5 million.
The annual conference considers the further development of NATO's defense capabilities, particularly the implementation of national defense plans of member countries and their coordination within the framework of general planning in the NATO deterrence and defense system.