Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of NATO’s Military Committee, has characterized the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict as a strategic misstep for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to the BBC, Adm Dragone emphasized that the war has reached a stalemate, making it imperative to initiate peace negotiations to prevent further loss of life. He highlighted that Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine inadvertently led to Finland and Sweden joining NATO, further isolating Russia on the global stage. ‘Putin will not succeed in establishing a puppet government in Ukraine,’ Dragone asserted, dismissing any notion of a Belarus-like scenario in Kyiv. He also underscored NATO’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine, stating that the alliance will support the nation until a lasting peace is achieved. On the topic of defense spending, Dragone noted that NATO members have agreed to increase their defense budgets to 5% of GDP by 2035, a move prompted by persistent urging from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Addressing concerns over Russia’s recent unveiling of advanced nuclear-powered weapons, Dragone downplayed the threat, reiterating NATO’s defensive posture. ‘We are not threatened by them; we are prepared to defend our 32 nations and one billion people,’ he declared. Looking ahead, Dragone identified the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—as potential flashpoints for future aggression but assured that NATO’s Article 5 would ensure collective defense. He also highlighted air defense as NATO’s top priority, with plans to deploy a ‘drone wall’ along the alliance’s eastern borders within months. Despite internal dissent from some member states like Slovakia and Hungary, Dragone expressed confidence in NATO’s cohesion and reliability, concluding, ‘The alliance is stronger than our adversaries, and we will stand with Ukraine until peace prevails.’
Nato ‘will stand with Ukraine’ to get long-lasting peace, senior official tells BBC
