By BRUSSELS. Nov 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says he has seen reports of the withdrawal of Russian troops, noting that it is now important to wait and see what exactly will happen on the ground.
He said this in London on Wednesday during his visit to the UK, commenting on the relevant information at the request of journalists.
“We have seen the announcement [on the withdrawal of Russian troops to the left bank of Dnipro], but we will of course, wait and see what actually happens on the ground. What we do know is that Russia has been pushed back, first from the north around Kyiv. Then in the east around Kharkiv, and then actually we see slowly how the Ukrainians are able to push back the Russian forces also in the south around Kherson,” Stoltenberg noted.
According to the Secretary General, “it is encouraging to see how the brave Ukrainian forces are able to liberate more Ukrainian territory.” “The victories, the gains the Ukrainian armed forces are making belongs to the brave, courageous Ukrainian soldiers. But of course the support they receive from the United Kingdom, from NATO Allies and partners is also essential. So the support we deliver including the training I saw this morning here in United Kingdom is essential, it will continue and that is also the message when it comes to the situation on Ukraine that we will continue to support around Kherson, that we will continue to support Ukraine,” he assured.
Stoltenberg reiterated his belief that if “President Putin wins in Ukraine, it will be disastrous for Ukrainians but it also makes us more vulnerable because then the message to President Putin, to other authoritarian leaders, will be that they can get their way, achieve their goals by using brutal military force.”
