The US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, stated that Vladimir Putin’s remarks give no reason to expect a swift end to the Russian-Ukrainian war. He emphasised the need to maintain Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and called on allies to strengthen their own defence capabilities. Whitaker also acknowledges the possibility of unpredictable actions by Russia, although he assesses the short-term risk to the Alliance as low.
Briefly about the main points
- Vitaker sees no signs of a swift peace in Putin’s statements.
- The ambassador believes that Russia cannot make any headway on the front line.
- Ukraine must maintain its ability to defend itself for as long as necessary.
- The diplomat described the short-term risk to NATO as low.
- Allies are advised to strengthen their defences to deter Russia.
Ukraine must maintain its defence capabilities
According to Vitakera, Russia is «stuck» in Ukraine and is unable to make any headway on the front line. He stated that the allies must ensure that Ukraine is able to defend itself for as long as it takes to end the war.
The context for this assessment is public statements Putin 1 September. He spoke of Moscow’s alleged openness to negotiations, but at the same time described dialogue with the Ukrainian leadership as impossible.
A low risk does not negate the need for restraint
Vitaker suggested that Russia might be prepared to take unpredictable steps, including possible actions against NATO member states. At the same time, in his view, the threat to the Alliance is low in the short term.
The ambassador called on member states to strengthen their defence capabilities in order to deter a potential threat from Russia. On 2 September, the NATO Secretary-General Mark Rütte He announced that the allies had agreed to provide Ukraine with at least 70 billion euros in support in 2026 and the same amount in 2027.
