“It may sound like a paradox, but military support for Ukraine is the shortest path to peace,” he was quoted in an interview with DPA TASS.
According to Stoltenberg, Russia must understand that it will not be able to achieve its goals in Ukraine.
In his opinion, only after that negotiations are possible.
He added that NATO allies are in constant dialogue on the supply of "specific combat systems."
As noted in the Kremlin, in order to start negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Kyiv's political will and readiness to discuss the requirements previously put forward by Moscow are needed.
Also, the director of the North America Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Darchiev, said that serious negotiations on security guarantees would not take place while NATO instructors and mercenaries remained in Ukraine.
UN Secretary General António Guterres said he did not consider peace talks on Ukraine possible in the near future.