Arriving at the Munich Security Conference on Friday (17 February 2023), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that, one year since Russia launched its full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, our security environment has fundamentally changed. He underlined the need to sustain support for Ukraine, so that it can win the war and prevail as a sovereign independent state in Europe. "If President Putin wins in Ukraine, it will be a tragedy for the Ukrainians but it will also be dangerous for all of us," Mr Stoltenberg said, adding that this would be "a message to authoritarian leaders all over the world that when they use military force, they achieve their goals. And that will make the world more dangerous and also more vulnerable."
Noting the vulnerabilities caused by dependence on Russian gas, Mr Stoltenberg cautioned against making the same mistakes with other regimes such as China, and underscored the importance of further investing in our security. He also stressed that "the most important lesson to be learned is the importance of North America and Europe standing together. There is no security in Europe without NATO. And the only way to preserve peace, to ensure our security is to ensure that North America continues to stand together with Europe."
Mr Stoltenberg is attending the Munich Security Conference on February 17-18. He will speak at a panel discussion on Saturday 18 February with the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu and the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. He will also have bilateral engagements on the margins of the conference.
